JAMIE Teale has been stripped of the Hartley Wintney captaincy after the match umpires complained about his conduct during the team’s crushing defeat to local rivals Hook and Newnham Basics last Saturday.

Teale and his relegation-threatened Hartley side were always up against it, being without two of their top bowlers. The Hook batsmen took full advantage with a blistering display of big hitting.

The captain first clashed with the umpires when he felt free-scoring Jordan Hobday had been run out early in his innings.

He then saw his brother, Mark Teale, limp off after being hit on the shin.

A long afternoon in the field continued for Hartley as Hook reached 408-5.

Teale’s frustrations boiled over again near the end of the visitors’ innings, when he was involved in another heated exchange with the match officials.

It is the first time that Teale has been in trouble with the umpires during his two years in charge, but it has proved to be his undoing.

Teale said: “I love Hartley Wintney Cricket Club and have played there all my life.

“I was proud to be captain and the fact I steered the side to promotion last season.

“I was very disappointed with the way it went on Saturday, but it was only one game.

“I just could not believe the decision was made so quickly on Sunday morning.”

The club released a statement on the matter, which read: “Following the match against Hook, Hartley Wintney Cricket Club received a serious written allegation from the Southern Electric Premier League concerning the behaviour of a member of the Hartley Wintney team towards the officiating match umpires.

“The letter from the SEPL indicated a most serious breach of the ECB Code of Conduct for players and of the spirit of cricket.

“A SEPL disciplinary hearing will be held into the allegation and in the meantime the SEPL offered the club the opportunity to review the allegation and, if warranted, to take action against the player.

“The club instigated an immediate internal injury and following that inquiry the player concerned has been banned from the next two SEPL games.

“In addition, it was felt by the club that it was in the best interests of both the club and player concerned that he should not continue in his position of responsibility within the team for the remainder of the season.”

Teale will play for Hartley Wintney’s second team in the Hampshire League this weekend and Scott Baldwin, who was Teale’s predecessor, has been named as the new first team skipper.

The village side slipped into the Division One relegation zone after their loss against Hook.

They are at home again on Saturday, hosting mid-table Liphook and Ripsley.

Baldwin is one of three players returning this week, with opening bowler Chris Jolley and wicket-keeper Richard Hill also coming back into the side.

Mark Teale is expected to be fit to play after hospital scans revealed that he had not broken any bones against Hook.

When Hartley travelled to Liphook earlier in the season, they lost by 56 runs, being bowled out for 151.

Looking ahead to his first game back in charge, Baldwin said: “Suman Ganguly is a real danger-man and we will hope to get him early.

“We have four games left and have to get as many wins as we can if we want to avoid relegation.”