- Mar 4, 2024
- Sep 29, 2022
Australian skipper Aaron Finch has been reprimanded for using verbal obscenity on the field during the first T20I against England at Perth on Sunday, October 9. The incident happened in the ninth over of England’s innings in the series opener. Aaron Finch was in a hot temper, swearing at the on-field umpires Sam Nogajski and Donovan Koch following a caught-behind appeal.
“It would have been f****** nice to know in time,” Finch was caught saying this by the stump microphone after the on-field umpires did not bring to his notice whether a Jos Buttler edge had carried to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.
Finch, who recently retired from ODI cricket, was found to have breached the Level 1 ICC Code of Conduct for resorting to inappropriate language during the England innings. As a result, he breached Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, relating to the “use of an audible obscenity during an International Match.”
The Australian Opening batter admitted to the offence and received an official warning, due to this incident, one demerit point was added to his disciplinary record. Even though this was Finch’s first offence in the last two years, the right-handed opening batter might face stern repercussions if the same offence is repeated in the England T20Is or the 20-20 World Cup.
It is worth noting that the rule states that when a player gets four or more demerit points within two years, they get converted into suspension points, which results in a player being banned. Finch admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by David Boon, who was the match referee in that game, so a formal hearing was not required.
England won the match by eight runs in a closely fought high-scoring game which was played in Perth. Alex Hales was awarded the player of the match for his 84 off 51 balls.