All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was fined 50% of his match fee by the ICC match referee David Boon, for his alleged role in the fight with England’s strike bowler, James Anderson. The hearing was conducted by Boon at the hotel where Indians were staying at Southampton, just ahead of tomorrow’s third Test of the ongoing India vs. England series at the Rose Bowl ground. The hearing lasted for almost three hours, and it was only after due consultation with other ICC officials did match referee Boon arrive at his decision.
As David Boon said, “Under Article 6.1 of the code, I had to be comfortably satisfied that the offence had occurred in order to find Mr Jadeja guilty of an offence under Article 2.2.11.
“While I was in no doubt that confrontation did occur, and that such conduct was not in the spirit of the game and should not have taken place, I was not comfortably satisfied that this was a level-two offence. Therefore, in exercising my discretion under Article 7.6.5 of the code and having heard all the evidence, I was comfortably satisfied that Mr Jadeja had committed a level-one offence under Article 2.1.8 of the code.”
The row between Jimmy Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja had reached a boiling point after the conclusion of the first Test of the Investec Test series at Trent Bridge. Jimmy Anderson is alleged by the Indians to have pushed Ravindra Jadeja, and having used threatening and intemperate language.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain of the Indian team is believed to have been with Jadeja at the time of the incident and to have witnessed the whole thing, and hence is said to be the key person pushing for a fitting punishment to be meted to Anderson. Dhoni is normally a highly taciturn and easy going player, for him to be so incensed over this issue indicates a high degree of seriousness. Team managements of both sides, as well as many of the senior players have tried to broker peace and find an amicable resolution to the conflict. But Dhoni has been intransigent, and in no mood to give up.
James Anderson’s hearing will be held on Friday, next week, and is said to be a thorough process conducted by Australian Judicial Commissioner, Gordon Lewis. If Anderson is found guilty of a level three violation, he faces a ban for a minimum of two and a maximum of four Test matches, which means he would miss the last two Tests of the Investec series, including a match at his home ground, Old Trafford in Manchester.
Indians have held to their point that it was Anderson who was completely at fault and Jadeja was a victim rather than a participant in the conflagration. Hence, the reaction from the Indian team management at Jajeda’s punishment, which amounts to 3500 pounds, was dismay and disappointment. The question here is not about the money, as 3500 pounds means little to an IPL star like Ravindra Jadeja who earns a couple of million dollars a year, at least. The matter has become one of principle, and hence the Indian team management intends to appeal strongly against the decision.
As Indian cricket board BCCI said in a statement, “The BCCI wishes to make it clear that it is not satisfied with the verdict. The BCCI reserves its right to appeal against the sentence. The BCCI believes that Mr Ravindra Jadeja was not at fault, and supports him fully.”
Observers say that there has been a history of bad blood between Jimmy Anderson and the senior Indian players, including captain Dhoni, which goes back to the 2011 tour of England by India, when the Indian team was whitewashed 4-0. Anderson was in top form then, and it is believed that Indian players objected to his attitude towards them. The incident at Trent Bridge was the proverbial last straw that broke the camel’s back, as far as skipper Dhoni was concerned. Hence, this massive show of disapproval.
Hopefully this fight will end just the way the last Test match between the two sides at Lord’s ended – with a handshake between Jimmy Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja. Last thing cricket fans from either of the two countries want is for Anderson to be banned from this Test series, as that would seriously bring down the intensity of the contest, which is boiling up very nicely after India’s win in the last Test, and it is hoped for the excitement to continue for the rest of the series.
The third Test of the Investec Test series will be played at Rose Bowl, Southampton and can be seen live in India from 3:30 PM this Sunday.
