Gavin Tonge, Ropley's 6 ft 4 in West Indian fast bowler, has been banned from playing any more Hampshire League cricket this season.

Tonge, 20, from Antigua, had played only two County Division 2 matches this summer before the Hampshire League discovered that he had turned out in three Carib Beer Cup matches for the Leeward Islands earlier this year.

Hampshire League rules preclude anyone who has played First Class cricket in the previous 12 months playing in the competition.

Ropley captain Martin Peters confessed he knew nothing about Tonge playing in the Caribbean's inter-island competition this winter.

"Gavin played at Ropley last season (topping the Divisional bowling averages with 34 wickets), prior to which he'd appeared several times for the West Indies in the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.

"But it wasn't until the Hampshire League got on to us that we knew anything Gavin playing for the Leewards."

It transpires that Tonge played in three separate Carib Beer Cup ties against West Indies B, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago, achieving two three-wicket hauls.

He picked up eight wickets in all, the prize scalp among his victims being West Indies Test batsman Darren Ganga.

Tonge also took three wickets in each of his Hampshire League appearances for Ropley last month, taking 3-39 at Fair Oak and 3-40 to set up an eventual eight-wicket win over Rowner.

But Ropley, who stumped up Tonge's return air fare from the West Indies, fear they could be docked the 28 points they have collected this season.

"Gavin later confirmed that he had played in those three games in the Caribbean," Peters explained. "Had we known that earlier, we wouldn't have organised for him to fly across.

"He's a very shy lad who hardly says very much, so it came as no surprise when he didn't saying anything about his Leeward Islands games until we asked him."

Tonge may have little option but to return to his native Antigua, as he is not eligible to transfer to any Southern Electric Premier League club.

"Overseas players have to possess a coaching qualification to play in the Premier League; sadly Gavin doesn't have any coaching badge," Peters added.