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Steve Smith fined for slow over-rate

21st December, 2014
6

Steve Smith has been fined for Australia’s slow over-rate in the second Test and risks a one-match ban if found guilty of the same offence in the next year.

Smith has been docked 60 per cent of his match fee, while teammates handed over 30 per cent of their fees.

If Smith is found guilty of another minor over-rate offence as captain in Tests over the next 12 months, he will be given a one-game ban by the International Cricket Council.

Brisbane served up typically hot and humid conditions for the second Test, with an extra drinks break taken in each session.

Play was regularly disrupted by the 12th men and other officials running on to help both sides handle the heat.

The ICC released a statement, noting “time allowances were taken into consideration”.

Coach Darren Lehmann, speaking after day one, said he didn’t “particularly like” the fact Australia completed 11 overs an hour.

“There’s time wasting going on everywhere,” Lehmann said.

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“We’ve got to get better at that as a side.

“(Also) the ground, people waiting for people in (corporate) boxes, security behind sightscreens, two drinks breaks.

“All those things that come into it for different reasons, and we had a lot of injuries on the ground.

“Hopefully we get better at it.”

Meanwhile, India paceman Ishant Sharma was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for using “language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting”.

Sharma was vocal throughout Australia’s two innings, but it was his send-off of Smith in the first innings that Crowe took exception to.

“Sharma was seen on television screens using inappropriate words,” the ICC noted in the statement.

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There was no formal hearing, with Sharma accepting the proposed sanction.

The first Test was also marred by a handful of ICC fines.

Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner were fined for their heated confrontation, while Virat Kohli was docked 30 per cent of his match fee after remonstrating with Smith.

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