Benn suspended, Johnson and Haddin let off with fines

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: December 19, 2009

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Perth: An ugly altercation takes place between two Australian and a West Indian player on the field. The Australians are let off with fines but the West Indian is banned. Ring any bells? Did anyone say Harbhajan Singh-Andrew Symonds controversy in 2008?

Just like in 2008, when Harbhajan Singh was banned for one game while Andrew Symonds was let off with a fine, this time too West Indian spinner Sulieman Benn has been banned for two ODIs while the Australian pair of Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson, who were equally guilty in the offence if not more, have been let off with fines. Surprisingly, the match referee shelling out the punishment is the same man who was involved in the 2008 controversy, Chris Broad!

The International Cricket Council said in a press release on Friday that Benn will have to miss the opening two limited-overs matches against Australia in Melbourne on Feb 7 and Adelaide on Feb 9. Haddin and Johnson, meanwhile, have been fined 25 percent and 10 percent of their respective match fees for their part in the altercation.

Benn was charged with an article 2.2.11 offence while both Haddin and Johnson were charged with an article 2.1.8 offence. Both these offences prohibit players from conducting themselves in any way that is not in accordance with the spirit of the game.

For Level 2 offences, players have the right to appeal against match referee’s decision within 48 hours of notification of that decision, while for a first Level 1 offence the match referee’s decision is final and binding.

The incident happened during the ongoing third test match between the two teams at Perth. In the 118th over of Australia’s first innings, on the first ball of the over, Benn collided with the non-striker Mitchell Johnson while trying to make a save off his own bowling. The contact was merely incidental with none of the players at fault.

But Haddin appeared to have inflamed the situation when he pointed his bat at Benn after completing a run. Both the players exchanged words. Things turned ugly when two balls later, Haddin drove the final ball of the over back to Benn , who, after fielding off his own bowling shaped up to throw the ball at the striker’s end although the batsman was standing inside the crease.

At the end of the over, the two batsman were having a mid-pitch discussion when Benn moved close to the batsmen and pointed at Haddin over Johnson’s shoulder. There appeared to be some incidental contact between Johnson and Benn when Johnson moved to position himself between his partner and the bowler. But things got out of control when when Johnson pushed Benn away, following the initial contact.

After the close of play, West Indies skipper Chris Gayle said he felt Benn had not initiated the physical clash. “Benn wasn’t involved in that,” Gayle said. “If you watch the telly, you see who made physical contact.”

The Australia players pleaded guilty at an early stage of the hearing, conducted by match referee Chris Broad, but Benn’s hearing was held at the close of the second day’s play after the spinner pleaded not guilty to the charges laid against him.

“It was an incident which could have been avoided. No one likes to see cricketers pointing bats at their opponents or pushing each other away. It is not the sort of example that players should be setting at any time, least of all in a series which is being played in a great spirit and being followed by millions around the world on television. The decision to find Sulieman guilty of a Level 2 offence is indicative of the fact that conduct contrary to the spirit of the game is completely unacceptable. I hope he has learnt his lesson and will be careful in the future,” Broad said.

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