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NSW Blues player Joel Davies has been handed a five-match ban, with three of those games suspended, for making a lewd gesture during a premier cricket match last weekend despite arguing that he was merely imitating an NBA star.
Earlier this week, Davies, a NSW contracted player, was reported for an incident during a first-grade match on Sunday between Manly and Sydney University.
After taking a wicket, Davies celebrated by thrusting his hips. It was initially believed to be in the direction of a Sydney University batsman.
Davies, a basketball fan, argued he was imitating NBA star Joel Embiid, who has been fined in the past for a gesture widely known as a “D-X crotch chop” – famously used by D-Generation X, a former professional wrestling stable in the late 1990s featuring Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chyna and X-Pac.
The crotch chop was D-X’s signature taunt, in which those wrestlers and other members of the group would point their hands towards their own crotch in the shape of a V or X.
Davies’ send-off was widely shared in cricket circles after it was recorded on video.
The incident was not reported by on-field umpires.
Davies, who has been reported in the past in grade cricket, was handed a five-match suspension.
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Three of those matches were suspended, meaning Davies will only serve a two-game ban unless he finds himself in hot water once again.
Davies also received a warning from the commissioner, who is independent of Cricket NSW.
Davies accepted the ban on Friday morning and will not be punished any further by CNSW.
Manly players informed Cricket NSW that they do not believe the send-off was of a sexual nature.
Davies has played 10 Big Bash matches and has been reported before in a first-grade match for giving an opponent a send-off.
Davies flew to Adelaide as part of a NSW second XI squad but did not take part in the match due to a hamstring injury. It means his suspension may be delayed until he can prove his fitness.
With Vince Rugari
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