McGrath officially reprimanded for obscene behaviour on the field

Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath was given an official reprimand for obscene behaviour on the fourth day of the third and final test against South Africa yesterday.

McGrath was found guilty of the offence after appearing before an International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing following an outburst in the 13th over of South Africa’s second innings. The paceman was reported by the on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden and third umpire Bob Parry for “using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or the making of an obscene gesture”.McGrath was charged with a level one offence which carried a maximum penalty of being fined half his match fee.The reprimand he received was the minimum penalty.McGrath has been found guilty of misconduct on five separate occasions since 1998.He has been fined four times and suspended once for a range of offences including swearing, spitting, sledging and dissent.He was the second Australian player to be reprimanded under the sport’s code of conduct rules in the match after Brett Lee was found guilty of dissent when he unsuccessfully appealed for an lbw decision against Jacques Kallis on the opening day.South African coach Mickey Arthur was also charged with publicly criticising the umpires after a string of decisions went against his team on Wednesday.A decision on his hearing was due to be announced on Friday.The ICC warned both teams about their behaviour before the series began but Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland defended his players.”It’s disappointing when a player gets found guilty of an offence…because our players have made a pledge that they want to play the game a certain way and they want to commit to a certain code,” Sutherland told a news conference on Thursday.”This has been a very fiercely contested series (but) let’s face it, we’ve been looking for that for a number of years so I don’t think we should be too disappointed at players going very hard at each other on the field.”-Nampa-ReutersThe paceman was reported by the on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden and third umpire Bob Parry for “using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or the making of an obscene gesture”.McGrath was charged with a level one offence which carried a maximum penalty of being fined half his match fee.The reprimand he received was the minimum penalty.McGrath has been found guilty of misconduct on five separate occasions since 1998.He has been fined four times and suspended once for a range of offences including swearing, spitting, sledging and dissent.He was the second Australian player to be reprimanded under the sport’s code of conduct rules in the match after Brett Lee was found guilty of dissent when he unsuccessfully appealed for an lbw decision against Jacques Kallis on the opening day.South African coach Mickey Arthur was also charged with publicly criticising the umpires after a string of decisions went against his team on Wednesday.A decision on his hearing was due to be announced on Friday.The ICC warned both teams about their behaviour before the series began but Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland defended his players.”It’s disappointing when a player gets found guilty of an offence…because our players have made a pledge that they want to play the game a certain way and they want to commit to a certain code,” Sutherland told a news conference on Thursday.”This has been a very fiercely contested series (but) let’s face it, we’ve been looking for that for a number of years so I don’t think we should be too disappointed at players going very hard at each other on the field.”-Nampa-Reuters