India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was fined and given a demerit point for breaching Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to displaying conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.
This was the result of him rubbing a pain-relieving ointment to his index finger during the 46th over of Australia’s first innings on Thursday, 9 February. He had taken the cream from Mohammed Siraj’s hand and appeared to rub it onto his index finger of bowling hand with the ball in his hand as well.
This was done without asking for permission from the on-field umpires. And in addition to the 25% match fee fine, Jadeja was handed one demerit point as well, as it was his first offense in a 24-month period.
Jadeja admitted the offense and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
While reaching his decision to sanction Jadeja along with the Level 1 sanction he imposed, the Match Referee was satisfied that the cream was applied to the finger purely for medical purposes.
The cream was not applied as an artificial substance to the ball and consequently, it did not change the condition of the ball, which would have been in breach of clause 41.3 of the ICC playing conditions – Unfair Play – The Match Ball – Changing its Condition.
On-field umpires Nitin Menon and Richard Illingworth, third umpire Michael Gough and fourth umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan leveled the charge.
(ICC inputs)
