Waugh to appear before match referee

Australian captain Steve Waugh will front match referee Ranjan Madugalle tonight after being charged with misconduct relating to an incident on the third day's play of the Second Test against South Africa in Melbourne.

Waugh, who scored 90 in Australia's innings of 9/487, faced possible disciplinary sanction over his reaction to umpire Darrell Hair's decision to uphold a run out appeal against him midway through the day's final session.

Hair chose not to refer the decision to third umpire Bob Parry, though television replays later injected some controversy into the run out in revealing that wicketkeeper Mark Boucher may have been faster than the ball in making contact with the stumps.

The Australian captain lingered at the crease after Hair's ruling, prompting the charge of dissent to be brought against him by Madugalle under the International Cricket Council's Code of Conduct.

He faces a possible fine and/or suspension for his actions, though he has no past history in Tests of such offences.

It is expected that the results of the hearing - which is to be conducted in the presence of Hair, fellow umpire Eddie Nicholls, and Australian team manager Steve Bernard - will be made public shortly before the start of play tomorrow.

Ironically, the run out was the result of a direct-hit throw from cover point by Herschelle Gibbs, whose error in dropping a catch off Waugh's bat at a Super Six match at the 1999 World Cup remains the subject of cricketing legend in Australia.