Warne punished for bad behaviour

Shane Warne is in hot water with the ECB following his behaviour in Hampshire's Championship draw with Kent last week. He has been fined six points under the ECB's disciplinary code - and if he incurs nine points or more he will be automatically suspended.

Warne, Hampshire's captain, was clearly unhappy when the umpire Tim Robinson gave him out lbw to Ryan McLaren. He lingered at the crease and then turned round to stare at Robinson as he slowly trudged off. As he entered the pavilion he underlined his unhappiness with an audible obscenity.

Robinson and his fellow umpire Barrie Leadbeater reported him for two separate Level 2 breaches of the code - serious dissent at an umpire's decision and using language or a gesture that is obscene or of a serious insulting nature to another player, umpire, referee, team official or spectator.

The penalties remain on Warne's record for a period of two years. The accumulation of nine or more penalty points in any 2-year period will result in an automatic suspension. The ECB refused to comment further on the matter, not that much more needed saying.