Jayawardene fined for dissent in CB Series final

The Sri Lankan captain contested a no-ball call by the on-field umpires and was fined by match referee Broad.

By Agencies | Yahoo! Cricket – Tue 6 Mar, 2012 6:26 PM IST

Oxenford and Jayawardene exchange heated words during Tuesday's game.
 
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene been fined 10 per cent of his match fee after pleading guilty to a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during his side’s win in the second CB Series final against Australia in Adelaide on Tuesday. [Match Scores | Report]

Jayawardene was found to have breached Article 2.1.3 of the code of the code which relates to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match”.

After Sri Lanka’s eight wickets victory, which has levelled the best-of-the-three final of the three-nation tournament, the opener admitted the offence and accepted the proposed sanction offered to him by match referee Chris Broad. There was no formal hearing.

"I think I was the culprit, dragging it for too long. I thought initially the umpire didn't make a call, and took too long," Jayawardene was quoted as saying by Cricinfo. "I had no issue with the no-ball. waist high or whatever. But I felt that after Michael (Clarke) had spoken to him, that's when he had made the call. So I have been fined for that. That puts something in my report. That's all."

This was followed by Jayawardene expressing disappointment at being given out LBW off the bowling of James Pattinson. As he walked back, the Sri Lankan captain made a DRS signal to Kumar Sangakkara who was walking in to bat. Replays suggested the umpire had made the right call.

This wasn’t the only umpiring incident in the game that caused heartburn. Tillakaratne Dilshan was given not out to what was a clear caught-behind off Shane Watson. Dilshan completed his hundred to steer Sri Lanka to a strong position in the game.

Broad said: “The actions of Mahela Jayawardene were unacceptable as the ICC code clearly states that whatever may be the situation, you have to always respect and accept an umpire’s decision.

“It is understandable that Mahela Jayawardene felt disappointed after Farveez Maharoof’s delivery, which had been dispatched for a boundary, was also declared as a no-ball for a full toss above waist height.

“But as one of the senior most players in world cricket today and also as the captain of his side, Mr Jayawardene must maintain a certain level of self-control and clearly his actions went beyond what would be deemed acceptable.

“That said, Mr Jayawardene pleaded guilty to the offence and apologised for his actions.”

The charge had been laid by the on-field umpires Asad Rauf Bruce Oxenford along with third umpire Paul Reiffel and fourth umpire Simon Fry.

The charge related to an incident in the 44th over when Jayawardene, during a consultation between the on-field umpires, argued with their decision to declare a full toss above waist height as a no-ball. The discussion continued for a prolonged period and for the remainder of the over.

All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee.

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