The Bailey's Bay medium-pacer had one year trimmed off his original sentence this week by the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control's appeals committee, BCBC first vice-president Gladstone (Sad) Brown confirmed yesterday.

Hill received a three-year ban in August as a result of disciplinary action over his conduct during the senior national team's ICC tour in Malaysia last March.

Hill's actions -- said to be persistent disputes with captain Albert Steede and coach Allan Douglas -- prompted tour officials to take steps in sending him back home. That decision was later overruled by former BCBC president Ed Bailey who has since which been forced to step down.

Hill was allowed to remain with the tour team but has refused to comment on the incident in Malaysia. He later that he had no intention of playing under the captaincy of Steede again.

By having his sentence reduced, the 28-year-old Hill can now prepare to return to action on August 1, 1999.

CRICKET