Australian captain Aaron Finch has been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council for using an “audible obscenity” during the first T20 against England in Perth.
During Sunday evening’s series opener, the 35-year-old lost his temper in the ninth over of England’s innings at Perth Stadium, swearing at on-field umpires Sam Nogajski and Donovan Koch following an appeal for caught behind.
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After deliberating with his teammates on whether to call for a review, Finch asked the umpires whether the catch had carried to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.
The captain wasn’t given an answer by the on-field umpires, leaving him fuming as time ran out on the DRS timer.
“Could have been nice to know inside 15 f***ing seconds,” he vented in comments that were picked up by the stump microphones.
Finch has now been officially reprimanded for breaching Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to the “use of an audible obscenity during an international match”.
The Victorian avoided a fine because it was his first offence in a 24-month period, but one demerit point has been added to his disciplinary record for the Level 1 offence.
Finch accepted the sanction, so no formal hearing was required.
England ultimately won the first T20 by eight runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match bilateral series.
Australia has experimented with its batting line-up ahead of the T20 World Cup on home soil, with Finch sliding into the middle order despite being one of Australia’s most successful opening batters in white-ball cricket.
But the powerful right-hander confirmed he will return to the top of the order for Australia’s upcoming T20s against England.
“We’re going to keep trying things. I’m going to go back to the top for the next game, which was always the plan,” he told Fox Cricket after Sunday’s defeat.
“We’d get to the first two (T20s against West Indies) and then this game, then I’d go back to the top as preparation for the World Cup.
“It was just about giving (Cameron Green) an opportunity at the top and to keep trying things. After this little burst, especially (with) guys coming off a lot of injuries as well … you have to be prepared.
“So just trying to get as many games into Greeny in case he has to be called into the squad.”
The second T20 between Australia and England gets underway at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Wednesday evening, with the first ball scheduled for 7.10pm AEDT.
