Moeen Ali has been fined 25% of his match fee for “spraying a drying agent” on his bowling hand on day two of the first Ashes Test against Australia.
“Ali 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 statement. Furthermore, one demerit point has been added to Ali’s disciplinary record, as this was his first transgression in a 24-month period.
In the 89th over of Australia’s innings, Ali sprayed a drying agent on his bowling hand near the boundary line before going on to bowl the next over, breaking the umpires’ pre-series orders not to use anything on their hands without prior consent.
There was no need for a formal hearing because Ali confessed the crime and accepted the sentence imposed by Andy Pycroft of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.
“Because the spray was not used as an artificial substance on the ball, it did not change the condition of the ball, which would have violated clause 41.3 of the ICC playing conditions – Unfair Play – The Match Ball – Changing its Condition,” according to the statement.
The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Marais Erasmus, third umpire Chris Gaffaney, and fourth umpire Mike Burns.
Level 1 violations result in a minimum of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
