What is Demerit Point in Cricket ICC Code of Conduct: Why was R Jadeja fined in Nagpur Test?

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadejas return to international cricket has not only been a sight to behold as he earned the man of the match award in the recently concluded first of four Tests against Australia, but he also earned a demerit point and a 25% penalty on his match fee. .

Jadeja, who participated in multiple ways on all three days of the match, was reprimanded for applying ointment to the index finger of his left hand just before bowling the ball on the first day at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.

A viral video that had started circulating days after the game took a controversial turn, attracting all kinds of accusations of attempted ball tampering.

However, the referee of the match, Andy Pycroft, did not consider Jadeja guilty of tampering with the condition of the ball. Basically, the 34-year-old has been penalized for not notifying the umpires before putting anything on his bowling hand, especially in the middle of a set.

If you look closely, there is cream in Sirajs hand which stood out clearly from the TV. Jadeja put it on the finger, at no point did he put it on the ball. No need for further discussion. #HONEESTWIND pic.twitter.com/to3xCMMm2a

Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) February 10, 2023

In deciding to penalize the player with the level 1 penalty he imposed, the match referee was convinced that the ointment was applied to the finger for purely medical purposes. The cream was not used as an artificial substance on the ball, and therefore did not change the condition of the ball, read the ICC (International Cricket Council) statement.

What is Demerit Point in Cricket?

First introduced in September 2016, demerit points were included in the Laws of Cricket to punish cricketers for various breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct. These crimes are classified into four levels (Jadejas’s most recent offense falls into the Level 1 category, as mentioned above), and the crimes increase in severity with each level.

The system punishes a player who accumulates four demerit points (the score decided by the match referee) within 24 months by banning him from one Test or two white-ball matches. Repeat offenders will receive a double penalty if they accumulate eight demerit points within 24 months.

It is noteworthy that former Australian captain Michael Clarke had also hoped for a similar line that Jadeja would inform the umpires before putting anything on his finger, but ruled out any misconduct by Jadejas before the start of play on Day 2.