Jayawardene penalised for 'abusing' ground equipment

London, June 6 (UNI) Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was fined 20 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct as he knocked a stump from the ground following his dismissal during the third Test match against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

Jayawardene was found guilty of abuse of ground equipment by ICC Match Referee Alan Hurst in a hearing after play concluded on Sunday.

The visiting captain was found to have breached Level 1.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to 'abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings'.

''In reaching my decision, his (Jayawardene's) previous very good record was taken into consideration but, as captain, he must set an example not only for his own players, but for fans of the game,'' Hurst observed.

''The player immediately regretted his actions and apologised to the umpires before he left the ground,'' he added.

All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee and the referee's decision is final and binding.

The charge was brought by on-field umpires Darrell Hair and Rudi Koertzen, TV umpire Peter Hartley and fourth umpire Nigel Cowley.

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