The 10th over of the first innings can put Mohammed Siraj in trouble on the first day of the second Test against Australia. India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj threw at Marnus Labuschagne in frustration; even the Australian batsman walked away due to interference near the sight screen.
He could face consequences at the end of the second Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Adelaide Oval for throwing the ball near the batter, which is against ICC rules. As Siraj was about to bowl in the 25th over of the Australian innings, a spectator with a long beer snake passed the sight-screen. Labuschagne, understandably, withdrew from his stance.
As per the ICC Code of Conduct, Siraj is in breach of the rules. As per clause 2.9, Siraj was supposedly guilty of “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a player, player support personnel, umpire, match referee, or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an international match”.
“This offense will not prohibit a fielder or bowler from returning the ball to the stumps in normal fashion or from throwing the ball at the stumps or to a teammate when attempting a run out,” says the official rulebook.
The officials will consider various factors when evaluating such incidents. These factors are outlined in the clause. “(i) the context of the particular situation, including, without limitation, whether the action was deliberate, reckless, negligent, and/or avoidable; (ii) whether the ball/object struck the other person; (iii) the speed at which the ball/object was thrown; and (iv) the distance from which the ball/object was thrown.”
Siraj’s action could be viewed as intentional, careless, negligent, or preventable even though the ball did not strike Labuschagne. The ultimate call about any possible penalty will be made by the match referee. If Siraj is found guilty, he is likely to be charged with a Level 1 offense.
After winning the toss in the day-night Test, India chose to bat first earlier in the day and was bundled out for 180. Mitchell Starc took a wicket with the first ball to start the game dramatically. He became the second bowler to start three different Test matches with a wicket, trapping Yashasvi Jaiswal leg-before-wicket. KL Rahul then formed a 69-run partnership with Shubman Gill. Rahul scored 37, and Gill contributed 31. Starc came out for his second spell and finished with figures of 6 for 48 after swiftly destroying the Indian batting order.
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