Piper hit with one-year drags ban

Warwickshire keeper Keith Piper has been banned until the end of the season for taking cannabis.

The 35-year-old Warwickshire wicketkeeper was handed the suspension after pleading guilty to a charge of failing a drug test during last month's match against Glamorgan.

Piper must also undertake a drug counselling course, undergo another drugs test before playing again and then be target-tested up to six times in the 18 months that follow. He served a club-imposed drugs ban in 1997.

Surrey will learn today their punishment after twice being found guilty of ball-tampering during the championship match against Notts three weeks ago.

Frizzell County Championship, Div 1 - Bristol: Notts 469, Gloucs 250 & 31-4. Tunbridge Wells: Kent 262 & 122-2, Surrey 324. Hove: Middlesex 401, Sussex 252-8. Div 2 - Northampton: Northants 408 & 72-5, Somerset 356. Headingley: Essex 622-8 dec, Yorkshire 101-3. Derby: Derbyshire 251-9 dec, Leics 78-0.