McGrath fined for spitting (8 April 1999)

8 April 1999

McGrath fined for spitting

Peter Deeley in St John's, Antigua

Glenn McGrath has been fined 30 per cent of his match fee - about £900 - for spitting in the vicinity of West Indies opener Adrian Griffith during the fourth and final Test on Tuesday.

McGrath, Australia's No 1 strike bowler and the leading wicket-taker on either side, got into trouble at the close of the fourth day's play here when television cameras recorded the incident.

Match referee Raman Subba Row charged McGrath with bringing the game into disrepute but, after hearing the player's version of events, accepted that the act of spitting was not directed at the batsman. "It was found that such action, seen by so many TV viewers as well as the spectators, had brought the game into disrepute," said Subba Row.

McGrath received a severe reprimand and was warned about his future conduct. He was already under a suspended sentence for swearing at Alan Mullally during the Melbourne Test against England.

The Australian apologised to Griffith when the two shook hands before play yesterday.

McGrath's on-field duels with Brian Lara have been the highlight of the series. Away from the game they do not socialise and there have been two verbal altercations between them, although no action was taken.

Lara, who scored three hundreds in the series and finished with 546 runs at an average of 91, was expected to be named man of the series. He has now been appointed to lead the West Indies in the World Cup.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)