ENG vs AUS: Moeen Ali Fined for Level 1 breaching of ICC Code of Conduct during the Match.

Moeen Ali Fined for Level 1 breaching of ICC Code of Conduct: With the first of the five matches being played in Birmingham, the Ashes are now underway. England's Moeen Ali has been penalized 25% of his match fee for violating Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct while on the first Test against Australia on Saturday.

The incident took place in the 89th over of Australia's innings when Ali, violating the umpires' pre-series directive to not use anything on their hands without prior consent, sprayed a drying agent on his bowling hand near the boundary line before going on to bowl the next over.

Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with acting in a manner that is against the spirit of the game, was determined to have been broken by Moeen Ali. For violating Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct, Moeen's disciplinary record has been amended with one demerit point. This was the first offense for the England all-rounder in the last 24 months.

There was no need for a formal hearing as Moeen Ali confessed the wrongdoing and agreed to the punishment Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed.

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The Match Referee was satisfied that the cream was given to the finger simply to dry his hands when he decided to penalize the player in addition to the Level 1 sanction being issued. Because the cream was not given to the ball as an artificial material, it did not alter the ball's state, which would have violated Article 41.3 of the ICC playing norms - Unfair Play - The Match Ball - Changing its condition.

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For more details head to ICC?s official?website.