Nagpur: Ravindra Jadeja underlined his value to Team India with a brilliant all-round performance which helped the home team rout Australia by an innings and 132 runs in the first Test here on Saturday.
Jadeja was adjudged Man of the Match for his seven-wicket match haul and a crucial 70-run knock. But his dream return to international cricket after six months was somewhat soured by a fine imposed on him by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The Indian allrounder was slapped a fine of 25% of his match fee and handed 1 demerit point after he was found applying cream on his finger while bowling on the first day of the match without taking the permission of on-field umpires.
Match Referee Andy Pycroft concluded that the cream was applied for medical purposes and it was not an attempt at ball tampering.
“Ravindra Jadeja was found to have breached Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to displaying conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game,” the ICC said in a release.
“In reaching his decision to sanction the player along with the Level 1 sanction he imposed, the Match Referee was satisfied that the cream was applied to the finger purely for medical purposes. The cream was not applied as an artificial substance to the ball and consequently, it did not change the condition of the ball, which would have been in breach of clause 41.3 of the ICC playing conditions – Unfair Play – The Match Ball – Changing its Condition,” ICC added.
Jadeja admitted to the offence and there was no need of a formal hearing, ICC added.
The team management had earlier explained that the left-arm spinner had applied the cream to a swelling on the index finger of his bowling hand.
