Australia’s summer of discontent with arch-rivals South Africa continued on Monday when yet another of their players was cited for dissent.
Hard on the heels of misconduct charges against pacemen Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath, wicketkeeper and limited-overs opener Adam Gilchrist is now in trouble with officialdom.
The normally mild-mannered Gilchrist has been charged by International Cricket Council field umpires Aleem Dar and Simon Taufel and third umpire Daryl Harper for a level-one offence: ”Showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by action or verbal abuse.”
It follows an alleged outburst by the Australian during the 26th over of the tri-series one-day match against South Africa at the Brisbane Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Gilchrist appeared to have an exchange with Dar after he refused an appeal to refer an attempted run-out against Boeta Dippenaar to the third umpire.
South Africa won the match by five wickets.
The latest move follows a fiery summer between Australia and South Africa with verbal jibes between players dominating headlines throughout their three-Test series.
Earlier this month Australian captain Ricky Ponting was forced to admonish both Lee and McGrath for their on-field behaviour.
McGrath was officially reprimanded by ICC match referee Chris Broad for using obscene language while Lee was reprimanded for dissent during the third and final Test against the Proteas in Sydney.
Cricket Australia said in a statement that Gilchrist would be given a week’s break from the competition to rest with his family. He will be replaced by big-hitting wicketkeeper/batsman Brad Haddin until January 23.
CA said a hearing for Gilchrist would be held in Adelaide, tentatively on January 25. If found guilty he could face an official reprimand or a fine or both.
The Australian team were also fined for a slow over rate during Sunday’s match. – AFP
