Fourth Test ban looms for Anderson in upcoming hearing

David Clough 06:25 23/07/2014
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  • Troubled: James Anderson could face a ban for his altercation with Ravindra Jadeja.

     James Anderson faces the possibil­ity of being banned from his home Test at Old Trafford after a date of August 1 was set for his Interna­tional Cricket Council disciplinary hearing.

    England fast bowler Anderson will be quizzed via teleconfer­ence by ICC judicial commissioner Gordon Lewis after being charged with a Level 3 offence for allegedly “abusing and pushing” India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja during the first Test at Trent Bridge.

    An initial hearing yesterday morning, also via teleconference and involving Anderson’s legal rep­resentatives and others from the England and Wales Cricket Board and Board of Control for Cricket in India, “addressed preliminary is­sues” and set the date for the next stage of the disciplinary process.

    A Level 3 charge, if proven, car­ries a penalty of up to a four-Test ban. The date chosen for the full hearing is the day after the conclu­sion of the third Test against India at the Ageas Bowl, in a series Eng­land trail 1-0 following their 95-run defeat at Lord’s.

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    It was also decided that following England’s Level 2 counter-allegation against Jadeja over a reported spat between the two players in the Trent Bridge pa­vilion stairwell on day two of the match, the tourist’s case will be heard by the ICC’s match referee David Boon.

    However, the “details of this hearing are being worked out and will be announced in due course,” the ICC said in a statement.

    The punishments set out at Level 2, under the ICC’s code of conduct, are less stringent and mean Jadeja is highly likely to escape a ban even if found guilty. Anderson will dis­cover his fate within 48 hours of the hearing at 9am on August 1 – the time frame in which the judicial commissioner is required to an­nounce his decisions.

    The fourth Test of five, at Old Trafford, is scheduled to start on August 7. Lancastrian Anderson, even if found not guilty at Level 3, could – at Lewis’ discretion – be pe­nalised at a lower grade, such as the one Jadeja faces.

    If banned, or even otherwise, An­derson will have a right of appeal – details of which will be confirmed if appropriate by Lewis, who will also set the date from which any suspen­sion begins.

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