Plunkett banned for boozing

London - Durham's England international cricketer Liam Plunkett was banned from driving for a second time on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old fast bowler was arrested at around 03:10 (02:10 GMT) in Durham on July 28 while driving to an all-night fuel station after an evening out with friends, Peterlee Magistrates' Court in northeast England heard.

He was stopped because his headlights were not switched on and his reading was 74 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the limit is 35mg.

Jeff Gray, chairperson of the bench, said Plunkett would be fined £1 000 and must pay £100 costs.

He was banned from driving for 40 months, which will be reduced to 30 months if he completes a drink-driving awareness course.

Plunkett was convicted for drink-driving in February 2007 and was banned from driving for 20 months.

The cricketer has played in nine Tests and 29 one-day internationals but is not currently involved in the England set-up.