WEDNESDAY POLL: Upset ECB retaliate by laying charge against Jadeja after Anderson is cited

India have made allegations against England bowler James Anderson for “abusing and pushing” all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja under Level 3 of the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct.
James Anderson.James Anderson.
James Anderson.

The England and Wales Cricket Board last night issued a statement which makes it clear Anderson “categorically denies the accusations against him”, and that in response they intend to lodge their own charge against Jadeja.

A Level 3 charge, if proven, can result in a ban for up to four Test matches for a first offence.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The ECB have also described the incident, during the first Investec Test at Trent Bridge, as “minor” – but an ICC press release subsequently confirmed the charge has been laid, and if appropriate a disciplinary hearing will be held before a judicial commissioner “as soon as reasonably practicable”.

It is understood that Anderson is in little danger of being ruled out of the second Test at Lord’s this week – or, probably, the third in Southampton – because any hearing is unlikely to take place in that timescale.

The statement from ECB read: “The England and Wales Cricket Board has reacted with surprise that the India team has made allegations against James Anderson under Level 3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for a minor incident involving Ravindra Jadeja during the first Investec Test match at Trent Bridge.

“In the light of this, the ECB has notified the ICC of its intention to lodge code of conduct breaches against Jadeja.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“James Anderson categorically denies the accusations made against him, and the ECB have pledged their total support for the player should he be charged by ICC.”

The incident allegedly took place as the players made their way off the pitch for lunch on day two of the drawn Test.

At that point, Jadeja and his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni were involved in a sixth-wicket stand.

The ICC’s code of conduct spells out the possible transgressions covered by a Level 3 breach. They include “threat of assault on another player” and conduct deemed “contrary to the spirit of the game ... or (which) brings the game into disrepute”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The allegation was made to ICC by India team manager Sunil Dev.

The ICC release added that the charge relates to Anderson “allegedly abusing and pushing Ravindra Jadeja immediately after they left the field for lunch on Thursday”.

It adds: “It is alleged that this was a continuation of a verbal altercation between Anderson and Jadeja as they were walking from the field.”

England arrive at Lord’s for the second Test with Yorkshire’s Gary Ballance acknowledging England must address the fragility which saw them lose six wickets for 68 at Trent Bridge, and five for 18 against Sri Lanka in Leeds.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He cites county team-mate Joe Root and James Anderson’s world-record last-wicket stand in Nottingham as a possible turning point.

“Yes, we had one (a collapse) at Headingley and then one again at Trent Bridge,” he said.

“We know we’ve got to put that right. We’re not going to hide away from that.

“Rooty and Jimmy dug us out of that hole.

“I hope we can learn from that and put those wrongs right in this game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We had that bad session at Trent Bridge. But the way those two fought was unbelievable.”

England, and under-fire captain Alastair Cook, have come to a critical point – the captain with only 97 runs in seven attempts this year and no century in his last 25 innings, while his team have badly misplaced the winning habit.

Ballance said: “Obviously we are looking for a win quite badly... we can take confidence from that fifth morning (at Trent Bridge) and try to build on it here.”