This has not been a good week for the famous British sense of fair play.

First the increasingly terrifying Conservative government - having already ensured that all members of the lower orders will be unemployed by 2014 at the latest - took further measures to demonise all those out of work as feckless, workshy scum.

Then a legitimate, peaceful student protest about tuition fees or beer prices or something was sabotaged by suspiciously well-organised anarchists.

Then came the confirmation that the Terrorists Have Won as a truly astonishing court verdict ruled that making really bad jokes on Twitter is now a criminal matter (I must be facing serious jail time).

But then to cap it all, the crowning turd in the fetid toilet bowl, came the news that the ECB had rejected Iain O'Brien's appeal against the decision to class him as an overseas player, meaning that he can no longer fulfil the last two years of his Middlesex contract.

It's a bonkers ruling.

After letting countless Saffers with pound signs in their eyes come over and collect the County Championship coin, the ECB have now seen fit to deny the application of a loyal, hard-working bowler, ambassador for the game and - not that it's relevant to the decision - bloody good bloke.

To add to the nonsense, the ruling against O'Brien could not have been made if his wife was from anywhere else in the EU outside, err, Britain. If she was Dutch, he could play county cricket. You know - in England. But she's English, so he can't. Make sense to anyone else?

O'Brien told BBC Radio London: "The confusing part is had my wife been Spanish or Italian, I'd be allowed to play here.

"According to my visa, I'm entitled to work as any other British citizen.

"That one confuses me. I've got an English wife so I can't play in England, whereas if she was Dutch I could. It's almost a prejudice against my wife for being English."

And here's what O'Brien said when he signed a three-year contract with Middlesex a year ago: "I have loved playing for the Black Caps but my wife lives and works in the UK, and my immediate future is there."

He's not someone who's come over here looking to make some cash; he's come over here looking to make his life.

The ECB will no doubt hide behind the facade of protecting English cricket, but Middlesex - despite being steadfastly rubbish for a decade apart from when they accidentally won the Twenty20 Cup a couple of years ago - don't seem to struggle producing England cricketers: three of their players played in every Test in the summer just gone and are now out in Australia for the Ashes. And one of those chaps happens to be the skipper.

Over the last decade the likes of Jamie Dalrymple, Owais Shah and Ed Joyce (who, incidentally, has been given the green light by the ICC to play in next year's World Cup for Ireland, meaning that oft-shambolic body has shown more common sense, compassion and a keener sense of right, wrong and fair play than the ECB this week) have all represented England at full international level.

O'Brien's presence in the Middlesex ranks does nothing to hamper the development of young English players at Lord's. Indeed, being able to call on an experienced international campaigner like IOB for advice and encouragement can only help them prosper.

O'Brien can still play county cricket as an overseas pro, but it won't be for Middlesex who have already signed Aussie Chris Rogers.

One hopes some other county without an overseas signing yet will be grateful for O'Brien's talent and experience. If not, O'Brien has already proved to be the latest in a series of affable, knowledgeable and enthusiastic Kiwis on the Sky pundit's sofa this winter so will hopefully not have to join the rest of the country in the dole queues.

But it's a farce. I'd threaten to do something unpleasant, but one can't be too careful these days.