WEST Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin has been fined 20% of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the way he celebrated his century on day four of the third Test against England on Sunday. On completing just his second hundred, at Edgbaston, in 44 five-day matches, Ramdin held up a sheet of paper, which read: ‘Yeah Viv, Talk Nah’.
The move, thought to be a reaction to criticism Sir Viv Richards levelled at Ramdin last month, has found little favour with the ICC, who found the 27-year-old guilty of breaching their code of conduct.
He was charged yesterday morning with a Level 1 offence, contrary to clause 2.1.8 (a), which relates to “conduct contrary to the spirit of the game”.
There was no need for a formal hearing, however, with Ramdin pleading guilty to the charge and accepting the punishment.
Richards took a dim view of the Trinidad man’s actions, telling the BBC’s Test Match Special on Sunday: “It’s like in a football match … if you are losing 5-0 and you score a goal in the 90th minute, you shouldn’t be running around jumping for joy.
“I wouldn’t be happy with that. I set my standards a bit higher.
“It’s been a long time coming. If you are good enough, the chances certainly are you are going to get it done.
“Let’s not forget it’s in a losing cause. Scoring a hundred when you are the team winning, that’s excellent stuff.” (PA Sport)