If the loss against England was not enough, Ishant Sharma, the Indian spearhead, was fined 15 per cent of his match fee and also netted one demerit point after he was found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct. This happened when the Indian pacer was vociferous while sending off Dawid Malan during the third day's play in Edgbaston.
According to the ICC match officials, Ishant's send-off had the potential to provoke an aggressive reaction from the departing batsman.
Ishant violated article 2.1.7
Ishant was found to have violated Article 2.1.7 of the code, which speaks about "using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an international match", according to an ICC release.
The Delhi pacer admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction which was levied by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. Hence, there was no need of a formal hearing. On field umpires, Aleem Dar and Chris Gaffaney, and third umpire Marais Erasmus who represented the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, levelled the charges on Ishant Sharma.
According to the rules mentioned in the ICC Code of Conduct, level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, as well as one or two demerit points.
Ishant was the wrecker-in-chief for India in the second innings as he picked up a five-wicket haul to put England on the mat.
"It feels nice to represent your country, come abroad and take five wickets in an innings, especially the second one. I bowl hard but my wickets' column doesn't (always) become bigger. It feels nice to work hard as a bowler," he said after the third day.
This comes even as India were beaten by England by 31 runs in the first Test match. Chasing 194 to win, India resumed day 4 at 110 for five, but could not breach the target and Ben Stokes blew away the visitors.
