Match referee finds Australia’s Mitchell Starc guilty of Level 1 offence

Match referee finds Australia’s Mitchell Starc guilty of Level 1 offence: The ICC match referee RS Mahanama one of the most experienced Match Referees governing international cricket today is the match referee for the ongoing 4^th test match between Australia and India at the SCG.

During India’s first innings Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc bowled an express delivery which took the outside edge of Indian opener Murli Vijay. No doubt it was a huge wicket considering the batting form Vijay has been carrying throughout the series. Starc though went over the line while giving the opener a sendoff.

As a result Australia player Mitchell Starc was issued with an official reprimand after committing a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second day’s play in the fourth Test against India in Sydney on Tuesday.

The ICC Press Release informing the same read:

Starc admitted to a breach of Article 2.1.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel,which provides that an offence will be committed where a player engages in “… conduct that either : (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute.”

After claiming the wicket of India batsman Murali Vijay, Starc engaged in an exaggerated celebration in front of the dismissed batsman. The charge was laid by on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Richard Kettleborough of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, Third Umpire Simon Fry from the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires and Fourth Umpire Gerard Abood.

Starc accepted the offence and the proposed sanction of an official reprimand and therefore a formal hearing was not required.

ICC Match Referee Mahanama said: “The match officials felt that the player’s behaviour was not appropriate, and he was reminded of his responsibilities to extend respect to his opponent and to play within the spirit of the game at all times.”