Cricketer, 28, banned for 10 years after being jailed for rape

ALEX HEPBURN has been banned from cricket in England and Wales for ten years after being convicted of rape.

The 28-year-old, who was born in Australia but was UK-based and played for Worcestershire, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2019.

After an appeal in 2020 his conviction for the attack at a Worcester flat was upheld, but he was released in 2021.

Earlier this year, Hepburn, who now lives in Australia, was charged by the Cricket Regulator with two breaches of the 2017 England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Directives.

The first pertained to his arrest and conviction, while the other related to him being part of an offensive WhatsApp group.

Hepburn committed the rape after setting up a group chat for a “sexual conquest contest”.

The independent Cricket Discipline Commission, who hear disciplinary cases in England and Wales, made the decision to hand Hepburn a ten-year ban after he chose not to respond to the breaches.

Along with the suspension, he will also have to undergo “appropriate professional treatment” relating to the events which led to his conviction.

He will also need to undertake “training and education courses” before a return to cricket can be considered.

The ban does not impact the all-rounder’s ability to play cricket in Australia – where he resides.

Hepburn’s former team-mates Joe Clarke and Tom Kohler-Cadmore were charged by the ECB in 2019 for bringing the game into disrepute due to being a part of the WhatsApp group.

However, Clarke and Kohler-Cadmore were not charged with any criminal offence.