Lord's Test: Mohammed Siraj draws ICC's ire for aggressive on-field demeanor

All the heat noted at Lord's during the third India vs England match seems to have caught up with Mohammed Siraj. The Indian seamer, known for his charged-up presence on the field, looked especially fired up on Day 4 of the Lord's Test. The day before had ended on an intense note after Indian captain Shubman Gill threw a barrage of words at Zak Crawley for intentionally stalling the game towards stumps. Day 4, meanwhile, started on a similar note, as Siraj carried the fire from the previous evening into the new morning. While Siraj proved effective for his team, the seamer has now landed on the ICC’s radar.

ICC fines Mohammed Siraj 15% of match fee, hands him a demerit point for Day 4 antics in the Lord's Test

Following the conclusion of Day 4 of the third India vs England Test at Lord's, Mohammed Siraj was fined by the International Cricket Council for a Code of Conduct violation. The apex council took note of an incident that occurred on Day 4. The pacer drew first blood for his team, dismissing the English opener Ben Duckett early in the innings. Siraj followed the dismissal with a fiery send-off, coming in too close to Duckett as the batter walked back to his dugout. While Siraj earned a warning from the on-field umpire, a stern repercussion has followed the pacer.

The apex council has deducted 15% of his match fee for his aggressive celebration. The flashpoint came in the sixth over of England’s second innings on Sunday. Duckett, attempting to play an assertive shot early in the day, misjudged a back-of-length delivery. The ball, lacking sufficient width, caught the inside half of the bat and went straight to Jasprit Bumrah at mid-on, ending Duckett's innings at 12. Siraj’s celebration immediately after the wicket was deemed excessive. He not only approached the departing batter in an animated manner but also brushed past him during his follow-through.

The ICC determined that Siraj had violated Article 2.5 of its Code of Conduct, which addresses inappropriate language, gestures, or actions that could incite an aggressive response from a dismissed batter. For this breach, Siraj received one demerit point in addition to the monetary penalty. This marks Siraj’s second demerit point in a span of 24 months. According to ICC regulations, accumulating four or more demerit points within that time frame leads to suspension points, which can result in a ban.

Meanwhile, the Lord's Test stands at a thrilling juncture ahead of the final day of action. India closed the day at 58 for four. Ben Stokes claimed the concluding honours, dismissing nightwatchman Akash Deep before stumps were called on Day 4. On Day 5, India, with six wickets in hand, need to chase 135 runs to take the lead in the five-match series. KL Rahul has stayed put at the crease and will be joined by Rishabh Pant at the start of the deciding day.