Mohammed Siraj’s send-off to Ben Duckett during the third innings of the ongoing Lord’s Test match may land him in trouble.
England resumed the fourth day at Lord’s on 2-0 after both sides were bowled out for 387 in their respective first innings. Siraj opened bowling with Jasprit Bumrah, and England reached 18-0 after five overs.
Siraj’s first two balls were on the off stump. After swinging and missing the first, Duckett pushed the second ball to cover. He scooped the third ball very fine for four before blocking the fourth.
Siraj followed with a good-length ball a shade outside the off stump. Duckett tried to pull, but the line and length did not allow him enough room for that. He hit the ball straight to Bumrah at mid-on.
A visibly pumped Siraj gave Duckett a send-off. As he walked towards his teammates, Siraj’s shoulder brushed against Duckett’s. “The game is better with the likes of Mohammed Siraj: it is an emotional game... It was actually Duckett who went towards Mohammed Siraj,” said Nasser Hussain on air even as the umpires had a word with the latter.
Siraj struck again, trapping Ollie Pope leg-before, while Nitish Kumar Reddy dismissed Zak Crawley. At the of writing, England were 51-3 with Joe Root (3) and Harry Brook (1) at the crease.
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Can Mohammed Siraj be fined by the ICC for his send-off?
Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct “includes any language, action or gesture used by a Player and directed towards a batter upon his/her dismissal which has the potential to provoke an aggressive reaction from the dismissed batter, whether or not any reaction results, or which could be considered to disparage or demean the dismissed batter, regardless of whether the batter him/herself feels disparaged or demeaned (in other words, a ‘send-off’).”
The article includes: “(a) excessive celebration directed at and in close proximity to the dismissed batter; (b) verbally abusing the dismissed batter; and (c) pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion.”
Siraj probably did not verbally abuse Duckett (lip-reading can be tricky, but the zoomed-in television cameras did not catch him yelling beyond “come on”). However, he was in close proximity to Duckett – though, as mentioned, Hussain had observed that Duckett had walked towards Siraj. The verdict will be match referee Richie Richardson’s discretion.
If found guilty, Siraj will be charged with a Level 1 offence – in other words, a warning, up to two demerit points, and up to 50 per cent of match fees.
However, there is also Article 2.12: “Without limitation, Players will breach this regulation if they deliberately, recklessly and/or negligently walk or run into or shoulder another Player or Umpire. When assessing the seriousness of the breach, the following factors (without limitation) shall be taken into account: (i) the context of the particular situation, including, without limitation, whether the contact was deliberate (i.e. intentional), reckless, negligent, and/or avoidable; (ii) the force of the contact; (iii) any resulting injury to the person with whom contact was made; and (iv) the person with whom contact was made.”
Yet again, Richardson will have to take the subjective decision of whether Siraj’s shoulder brushing against Duckett’s was done “deliberately, recklessly and/or negligently”. Since the “force of the contact” was negligible and Duckett was not injured, Siraj is unlikely to be sanctioned under 2.12.
However, if he is, he could be charged with a Level 1 or Level 2 offence, the highest sanction for which can include two suspension points, enough for him to miss a Test match.
