Warner’s expensive punch is a warning to others
 Everything
has gone well so far in the final edition of the International Cricket
Council’s Champions Trophy that was worked out at three venues -
Edgbaston, Kennington Oval and Sophia Gardens in Cardiff other than for
two incidents. The first was that punch that Aussie dashing left-hand
opening batsman threw at England’s young hopeful Joe Root in a pub brawl
and the ball tampering allegation that former England opening bowler and
now TV Commentator slapped on England.
That the Australian team was in a crisis there was no doubt. Firstly
they lost their inspiring Captain the stylish and heavy scoring Michael
Clarke suffering a recurrence of a back injury, and then Warner who was
suspended and fined.
Cricket Australia did not take kindly to the Warner assault
describing it as despicable and suspending and slapping a fine on him.
That he was not recalled, as was the talk doing the rounds here,
surprised everybody.
Unbecoming of Warner
It was unbecoming of Warner.
He should have known to hold his drinks. Warner has been marked as
the heir apparent for the Australian Captaincy once Clarke decides to
quit. Then with such high honour due to him, he should have known better
not to risk his career.
The batsman was warned and banned by Cricket Australia until the
Ashes and fined 7,000 pounds for throwing a punch at England batsman Joe
Root. Quite an expensive punch, I might add!
A statement from Cricket Australia read: ‘Warner pleaded guilty to
breaching Rule 6: Unbecoming Behaviour. CA Senior Code of Behaviour
Commissioner, The Hon. Justice Gordon Lewis AM, fined Warner $11,500 and
suspended him from the remainder of Australia’s ICC Champions Trophy
campaign as well as the Australian team’s two tour matches against
Somerset and Worcestershire before the First Ashes Test.
Warner will be eligible for the First Ashes Test. Warner had clashed
with Root after England thrashed Australia in the Champions Trophy game
in Birmingham where the players were having a night out.
Warner it is thought to have taken exception to fancy-dress wig worn
by Root. Warner, it is alleged, grabbed the wig before punching Root
across the face.
Warner has been known to invite trouble. Earlier he was fined 3,700
pounds by Cricket Australia for a foul-mouthed Twitter outburst against
Robert Craddock and Malcolm Conn two Australian cricket journalists.
He was out for the remainder of the Champions Trophy, or in their
pre-Ashes warm-up matches following a disciplinary hearing. As further
punishment probably, Warner was made the ‘water boy’ in one Champions
Trophy game!
Aussies flattened
The Aussies who were flattened by Sri Lanka at the Kennington Oval
and bowed out of the Champions Trophy, are gearing to meet England in
the traditional and more important Ashes series and this was not the
ideal start. With the ICC Champions Trophy final to be worked out today
in Birmingham, here are how some of the rules will apply.
Rules of Engagement
Power Plays – In simple terms these are periods of play when the
fielding restrictions make boundaries a lot easier to find, but at the
same time singles are not so easily collected because there are more
fielders within the 30-yard fielding circle. There are 10 mandatory
power play overs at the start of an innings, when the fielding captain
can place two fielders outside the fielding circle. During this period
the captain also has to position two close catches, usually say,
beginning with the two slips but also maybe progressing to fielders
catching on ‘the drive’ at cover and mid wicket later in the period if a
batsman is going well.
In terms of the second power play there used to b a bowling and
batting power play, but now just the batting version remains. It is of
five overs’ duration and must be completed no later than the 40th over.
Previously, sides would just take the power play at the end of an
innings, which rather defeated the purpose of its introduction, which
was to enliven the middle overs of an innings.
During this period the fielding side can place only three fielders
outside the fielding circle.
Non-power play overs
During these overs only four fielders can be outside the fielding
circle. This is a new stipulation, introduced in 2012 and it has changed
the international and on-side game considerably. Previously it was five
that were permitted, but now an extra boundary option is available to
the batsmen during this period.
For instance if a fielding side wants to position a long-on and
long-off to a seamer – with almost compulsory sweepers on the off and on
the leg side-, they will probably need to have both ‘third man’ and
‘fine-leg’ in the fielding circle.
This regulation also made life more challenging for spinners. An
off-spinner would normally bowl to a right-handed batsman with sweepers
at deep square-leg, mid-wicket, long-on, long-off and cover. He has to
lose one of those sweepers immediately now.
Two new balls
It does what it says on the tin. Since 2011 there has been a new ball
at each end at the start of the innings and the umpire at that end keeps
that ball while an over is bowled at the other. White balls are easily
discoloured and softened, and previously when just one was used there
was a mandatory change of ball after 4 overs.
But it was not a new ball that was used, instead it was replaced by
one similar use but better colour and condition. This two-ball
regulation has changed the game somewhat, placing premium on traditional
batsmanship early on against a moving ball.Maintaining wickets in hand
has become vital but the art of reverse swing is less relevant because
the ball rarely deteriorates enough for that to happen now.
Two bouncers
Bowlers are permitted to bowl two bouncers per over –previously it
was only one –a bouncer is defined as a ball that passes or would have
passed above shoulder height of the batsman while he is standing upright
in the crease. However,if the ball is above head height and the batsman
would be unable to hit it with a normal cricket stroke,then it is called
a wide.
This can be contentious and often fast bowlers use the bouncer as a
relatively safe means of a dot ball – delivery when no runs are scored -
when under fire.
It should be noted that the law regarding the mention ‘fast
short-pitched balls’, thus excluding the slower-ball bouncers that have
become commonplace in the modern one-day game.
Decision review system
Players will be able to challenge decisions made by the umpires, but
unlike Test cricket where three unsuccessful challenges are permitted
per innings, only one is allowed in international one-day cricket.
Should it be decided to challenge a decision the batsmen or fielding
captain will make a T-sign with their forearms at head height.
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