News

Ganguly warned for tardy over-rate

Sourav Ganguly has been pulled up by Mike Procter, the match referee, for India's slow over-rate in the first Test at Brisbane

Wisden Cricinfo staff
05-Dec-2003


Sourav Ganguly: time to speed up the over-rate
© Getty Images


Sourav Ganguly has been pulled up by Mike Procter, the match referee, for India's slow over-rate in the first Test at Brisbane Test. India are currently nine short of the scheduled number of overs they should have bowled.
The good news for Ganguly is that he has an opportunity to make up for the tardiness when India come out to bowl in the second innings. "A final decision in these matters is always taken after the match," informed Procter. However, if the Indians fail to quicken up their act through the rest of the Test and are found to be more than five overs behind the over-rate at the end of the match, it will constitute a Level Two offence of the ICC's Code of Conduct, the penalty for which is a fine of upto 50 percent of the match fee, a one-Test suspension, or both, for the captain.
The effect of the warning, which was issued at lunch on the second day, could be seen when the Indians took the field after the rain delay. Players who were earlier ambling between overs were suddenly scurrying from one end to the other. They will have to maintain that sense of urgency when - and if - India take the field a second time.