WA: Pomersbach faces uncertain future after alleged assault

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2009
WA: Pomersbach faces uncertain future after alleged assault

By Justin Chadwick

PERTH, Aug 10 AAP - Luke Pomersbach's international career could be over before it
ever really began after the troubled cricketer was charged with assaulting a police officer
while attempting to escape custody.

Pomersbach has been suspended indefinitely by the Western Australian Cricket Association
(WACA) and faces an uncertain future after police alleged the talented 24-year-old, who
made his Twenty20 debut for Australia against New Zealand in 2007, was involved in two
alcohol-fuelled hit-and-run incidents in Perth on Sunday night before resisting arrest.

During an alleged struggle to restrain Pomersbach, a police officer was pushed into
a window of the cricketer's City Beach house.

The officer required hospital treatment for minor cuts and grazes to his elbow.

Pomersbach has been charged with failing to stop, failing to accompany police, driving
with an alcohol level in excess of 0.08, assaulting a public officer, obstructing police
and escaping legal custody.

He will appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.

Pomersbach, a hard-hitting middle-order batsman who has also made his mark in the lucrative
Indian Premier League for Kings XI Punjab, has been plagued by off-field dramas throughout
his promising career.

In 2007, Pomersbach and Warriors teammate Shaun Marsh were suspended by the WACA for
engaging in a marathon drinking session just days before a match against South Australia
in Adelaide.

Earlier this year, Pomersbach was stood down from a WA Twenty20 fixture after failing
to turn up for a club game.

The WACA said neither Marsh nor any other Warriors players had any involvement in Pomersbach's
latest misadventure.

WACA chief executive Graeme Wood and WA coach Tom Moody spoke to Pomersbach via telephone
on Monday before deciding to suspend the star batsman from all pre-season training commitments
until the matter was dealt with by the courts.

Pomersbach, who has plundered 1,570 runs at an average of 43.61 in 22 first-class matches,
has previously spoken about his hopes of one day representing Australia in Test cricket.

But after being suspended for the third time in less than two years, those dreams are
in grave danger of becoming just that - dreams.

WA Premier Colin Barnett said he hoped the incident did not ruin Pomersbach's cricketing career.

"He is a very talented sportsman who could go on to greater things in cricket and perhaps
go on and play for Australia," Mr Barnett told reporters.

"It is a tragedy that he has found himself in the situation, that he has behaved this
way. I hope there is support for him.

" ... I hope it does not finish his cricket career - but right now he is in a lot of trouble."

Police allege that at about 9.30pm (WST) on Sunday, shortly after Australia wrapped
up the fourth Ashes Test in England, Pomersbach was driving while intoxicated when his
car crashed into the back of another car in the western Perth suburb of City Beach.

Pomersbach allegedly fled the scene in the Toyota Prado and 15 minutes later hit a
skip, slamming the loaded bin four metres into the pergola of a house.

Police claim he reversed the car and drove away, leaving an oil trail that led to his
nearby home.

"He was spoken to by police and as he was being placed in the rear of a police sedan
he informed police that he did not want to accompany them and tried to leave," police
spokesman Sergeant Greg Lambert said.

"A struggle developed when police tried to restrain the man, during which a police
officer was pushed backward into a window of the house, causing it to break.

"The man eventually managed to break free and ran away from the scene.

"A police dog and his handler were called in and tracked the man through sand dunes
before finding him and taking him into custody."

AAP jsc/jl/mn

KEYWORD: POMERSBACH WRAP

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