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Bailey suspended for second minor over-rate offence

George-BaileyAustralia captain George Bailey has been suspended for one ODI and fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players have been fined 10 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during Australia’s One-Day International against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the suspension on Bailey after Australia was ruled to be one over short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

As Bailey had previously been found guilty of a minor over-rate offence in One-Day Internationals within the last 12 months, this offence constituted his second minor over-rate offence for the purposes of the ICC Code of Conduct. Bailey pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

In accordance with Article 2.5.1 and Appendix 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with minor over-rate offences, in the case of a second minor over rate offence in the same format of the game within 12 months, the captain receives a one match suspension and is fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while the players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for each over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

As such, Bailey has been suspended from Australia’s next ODI, which is against England and will be played in Hobart on Friday 23 January.

In another incident, David Warner has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee after committing a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.

Warner 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”.

The incident happened on the last ball of the 22nd over when Warner approached India batsman Rohit Sharma and confronted him aggressively after the batsmen had taken a run from an over-throw. The Australian had to be withdrawn from the confrontation by both the on-field umpires.

Warner accepted the offence and the proposed sanction, and therefore a formal hearing was not required.

Both the charges were laid by on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and John Ward, third umpire Mick Martell and fourth official Simon Fry.