Cricket: Kemar Roach and Dale Steyn penalized for “unpleasant altercations”
Test cricket tests the skills as well as the emotions of a cricketer and the players must play within the spirit of the game keeping their emotions under control. During the third and final test between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, the bowlers were quite aggressive and some "unpleasant altercations" took place on the pitch.
West Indian bowler Kemar Roach and South African pacer Dale Steyn have been punished with 50% and 100% of their match fees respectively for breaching the ICC code of conduct in the third Test between South Africa and West Indies. Kemar had a run-in with Jacques Kallis while Steyn was found guilty of spitting in the direction of Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn.
West Indies' fielder Sulieman Benn had an altercation with the visiting Dale Steyn during the last Test match in Barbados. Steyn before his dismissal had an exchange of words with Benn on the crease during the first innings of the third test. Steyn, after losing his wicket to Benn, spat on the ground while walking past Benn and consequently got fined his entire match fee for his regrettable action.
Dale Steyn pleaded guilty to a Level 2 offence and was found to have violated clause 2.2.11 of the ICC code of conduct which relates to conduct of a major nature that is contrary to the spirit of the game.
Benn was lucky enough to pass away the penalty, but Kemar Roach, another West Indian player was punished for a squabble with Jacques Kallis on the fourth day of the same game. Roach after testing the batsman with a series of bouncers, repeatedly walked up to Kallis exchanging harsh words with him. The altercation required the intercession of the West Indian fielders and umpires to mediate. Roach was found to have committed a Level 1 breach of clause 2.1.8 of the code of conduct, which relates to conduct of a minor nature that is contrary to the spirit of the game.
This was the second time within a 12-month period that Roach has committed a breach of this clause. He could have been penalized more severely with a fine of his full match fee and/or two suspension points - a ban of one test or two ODIs.
South Africa, recently victorious against West Indies, has asked the International Cricket Council to take disciplinary action against Sulieman Benn. The South African team manager, Mohammad Moosajee, defending Steyn, said that what he has done was in retaliation of Benn’s altercation.
"http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn's action was regrettable and he has apologised for it, but it came after lots of provocation and there was also retaliation after the incident”, said the manager while talking to reporters upon his team's arrival in Johannesburg from the Caribbean.
Moosajee said that Cricket South Africa has asked ICC to take disciplinary action against Benn as well as he was also party to the altercation. “We have laid a code of conduct charge against Sulieman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Benn-c47745 with the ICC and that must now go through the judicial process".
The match referee Jeff Crowe, who decided to fine Dale Steyn, had also acknowledged that Steyn was provoked by Benn. "Dale's behaviour was entirely unacceptable and he knows that. The fact that he was provoked by Sulieman during his time at the crease helps to explain his actions but cannot excuse them". This is not the first time that Benn has been involved into some disciplinary action; he has been penalized for indiscipline earlier for an "unpleasant altercation" with Brad Haddin of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
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