Amid massive win over Australia, ICC fined and gave a demerit point to Ravindra Jadeja for breaching ICC Code of Conduct
Team India has thrashed Australia in the first test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur. They have registered a big win of an inning and 132 runs on the visitors to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
The match ended within three days as Australia couldn't bat freely against the Indian spinners. It all started with the first inning, as the visitors got bowled out for 177 runs. Then they conceded a 223-run lead in the first inning as India scored 400 runs in their first inning.
Trailing by 223 runs, the Australian batting order fell like a pack of cards, and the whole team got embarrassed for just 91 runs in 32.3 overs. This was Australia's lowest total in India. Ravi Ashwin picked up his 31st Test fifer and took 5/37, while Ravindra Jadeja continued his form and took 2/34.
However, after a massive win over the world's top-ranked Test team, India suffered a setback in the first game. The International Cricket Council (ICC) fined star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and gave him a demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel for Article 2.20, which suggests displaying conduct that is against the spirit of the game.
Someone sent me this and asked me what is going on here with the ball management?? @Gampa_cricket @beastieboy07 @auscricketpod #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/sqhWtURhbr
— Menners 🎙 (@amenners) February 9, 2023
This came after Jadeja was seen rubbing his index finger with a pain-relieving ointment in the 46th over of the first inning on Day 1. He took the ointment from Mohammed Siraj and rubbed it on his index finger of his bowling hand, which was done without taking permission from the on-field umpires.
Adding to the demerit point, Jadeja was fined 25% of his match fee, as it was the first offence for him in a period of two years. There was no need for a due process hearing because Jadeja accepted the violation and agreed to the punishment Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees recommended.
🚨 JUST IN: India star handed penalty for ICC Code of Conduct charge during first Test against Australia!#WTC23 | #INDvAUS | Details 👇
— ICC (@ICC) February 11, 2023
The Match Referee was satisfied that the cream was administered to the finger only for medical reasons when he decided to sanction Jadeja in addition to the Level 1 sanction he enforced. Because the cream was not placed to the ball as an artificial element, it did not affect the ball's state, which would have violated Article 41.3 of the ICC playing conditions - Unfair Play - The Match Ball - Altering its Condition.