Jayawardene fined 20 per cent of match fee for Code of Conduct breach

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during his country's third Test match against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

Jayawardene was found guilty of abuse of ground equipment by ICC Match Referee Alan Hurst in a hearing after play concluded on Sunday.

Jayawardene was found to have breached Level 1.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to `abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings', when he knocked a stump from the ground with his bat as he left the crease after being dismissed.

"In reaching my decision Mahela Jayawardene's previous very good record was taken into consideration but, as captain, he must set an example not only for his own players, but for fans of all ages that follow the game," said Mr Hurst.

"The player immediately regretted his actions and apologized to the umpires before he left the ground," he added.

All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee.

The charge was brought by on-field umpires Darrell Hair and Rudi Koertzen, TV umpire Peter Hartley and fourth umpire Nigel Cowley.

Mr Hurst reached his conclusion after a hearing attended by Mahela Jayawardene, coach Tom Moody, manager Michael Tissera and umpires Hair, Koertzen, Hartley and Cowley.

For Level 1 breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct the ICC Match Referee's decision is final and binding.