James Anderson handed demerit point for dissent in Galle Test

James Anderson has been given a second demerit point in as many Tests after being found to have shown dissent in Galle. Anderson was seen to throw the ball into the ground after a disagreement with umpire Chris Gaffaney following a warning for running on the pitch. He was subsequently found to have violated Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "showing dissent at an umpire's decision during an international match."

Anderson admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction, which also included an official reprimand proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft. There was no formal hearing.

Anderson had also received a demerit point - and a fine of 15 percent of his match fee - during the second day of the Oval Test against India in September this year. On that occasion he was adjudged to have spoken to umpire Kumar Dharmasena in "an aggressive manner" and snatched his cap from the him following an unsuccessful appeal for lbw against Virat Kohli. Andy Pycroft was the match referee on that occasion as well.

That was Anderson's first offence since the introduction of the ICC's revised Code of Conduct in September 2016. Demerit points stay on a player's record for two years. The accumulation of four demerit points results in an automatic suspension.