SYDNEY: Australia Test captain Michael Clarke has been reprimanded for showing dissent while playing for New South Wales in a domestic match, Cricket Australia said yesterday.
Clarke was reported by the umpires on Thursday for challenging an umpire’s decision while captaining NSW in a Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Sydney.
CA said an undisclosed batsman was given the benefit of the doubt when a close-to-the-ground catch was claimed at gully and when the umpire gave a “not out” decision Clarke used the “T sign” or player decision review signal suggesting the decision should be reviewed by the third umpire.
Sheffield Shield matches are not televised and therefore a third umpire is not used. As part of the code of behaviour revisions, if any player uses the “T sign”, even in jest, it will lead to an automatic report as it shows dissent at the umpire decision, CA said.
Clarke admitted guilt and accepted Match Referee Daryl Harper’s proposed penalty of a reprimand. It was Clarke’s first offence in the past 18 months.
Clarke is expected to lead Australia in the first of five Ashes Test matches against England, getting under way in Brisbane on November 21.
England captain Cook’s stiff back on mend, says Tremlett
PERTH: Skipper Alastair Cook has overcome back trouble and is on track to return for England’s next tour game against Australia A, paceman Chris Tremlett says.
Cook was forced to miss the current three-day match against the Western Australia Chairman’s XI after arriving in Perth with a stiff back following the long flight from London.
But Tremlett believes his captain will be ready to play in the four-day game against Australia A, starting in Hobart on November 6.
“By all accounts he’s feeling a lot better,” Tremlett said late yesterday. “I think he had a bit of a stiff back over the last couple of days.
“But he’s been in the nets and in the gym, and he’s been in good spirits in the dressing room.”
Fast bowler Stuart Broad, star batsman Kevin Pietersen and spinner Graeme Swann were also rested from the current game, but all three are expected to feature in Hobart.
During England’s 3-1 series win on their last tour of Australia in 2010/11, Cook scored a colossal 766 runs at an average of 127.66 with three hundreds and a best of 235 not out.
Australia, who have lost the past three Ashes series, are fighting to reverse a 3-0 defeat in England earlier this year. AGENCIES
