Clarke fined by ICC over Anderson sledge

Michael Clarke, the Australia captain, has been fined 20% of his match fee for his sledge against James Anderson during the dying stages of Australia's win in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

The ICC charged Clarke with a breach of its Code of Conduct over comments he made while Anderson was batting late on Sunday. The stump microphone picked up Clarke telling Anderson he should "get ready for a broken f***ing arm", which led to umpire Kumar Dharmasena and third official Marais Erasmus bringing a charge under section 2.1.4 of the code, which deals with "language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting".

Clarke admitted the offence on Monday morning and accepted the fine proposed by match referee Jeff Crowe, which meant a formal hearing was not required. Clarke was charged with a level one offence, which carries the penalty of a warning/reprimand and/or a fine of up to 50% of the player's match fee.

In a statement, the ICC said that Clarke had "made inappropriate gestures and directed an obscenity towards England's James Anderson, which was picked up by the stump microphone". After the Test, Clarke said he had heard plenty worse on the cricket field than anything that was said at the Gabba.

"Through my career, there has always been banter on the cricket field - and I cop as much as I give, that's for sure," he said on Sunday evening. "That's part and parcel of the game ... but all the England players know we certainly respect them, and we understand we have to be at our best to beat them. I've heard a lot worse said on a cricket field than what the Australia players or the England players said throughout this Test match."