West Indies captain Brian Lara and England fast bowler Simon Jones have been fined half their match fees after being found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct during the second Test in Trinidad.
Match referee Mike Procter said that Lara was fined for showing dissent to the umpires late on Sunday when the England batsmen were offered the light for the second time, even though they had declined to go off just minutes earlier.
”Brian apologised and pleaded not guilty of a level-one but admitted to having shown dissent,” said Procter.
Jones, whose five-wicket haul on Monday helped England on their way to their seven-wicket win, pleaded guilty and was punished for bringing the game into disrepute.
The Glamorgan fast bowler found himself in trouble for screaming in the face of Ramnaresh Sarwan after winning a leg-before-wicket decision against the West Indies batseman.
”I listened to both sides of the story, and Jones was very apologetic,” said Procter.
”The umpires were very complimentary about his behaviour — Jones apologised to them straight away, and at the end of play.”
Jones, who spent 16 months out of the game battling a career-threatening knee injury, apologised after play on Monday for his astonishing outburst at Sarwan.
”I didn’t say anything to him,” Jones insisted. ”I just yelled. I was just excited to get the wicket.
”I’ve got no hard feelings towards Sarwan — it was just nice to the get the wicket. The umpires had a chat to me about it and I apologised to them about what happened, but there was nothing nasty there.
”I bowled him a half-volley the ball before and I was just frustrated with myself. That’s all it was.
”It’s the first time that I’ve had a good rhythm and timing and felt relaxed. I was much more relaxed today and tried to enjoy it more as well rather than put pressure on myself to do well.” — Sapa-AFP