A combination photo of England's James Anderson (L) and Ravindra Jadeja during the first Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, central England. (AFP Photo)
An ugly row is brewing between India and England, with the Indian team going to the ICC accusing English fast bowler James Anderson of pushing and abusing Ravindra Jadeja, charges that can lead to upto a four-Test ban.
The hosts expressed surprise that “the India team has made allegations against Anderson under Level 3 of the ICC Code of Conduct” and said they would contest the charges. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) would lodge “conduct breaches against Jadeja”, a statement said.
Anderson, HT has learnt, pushed Jadeja on the narrow pathway that connects the dressing rooms to the ground after the two sides left the field for lunch on Day 2 of the first Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
The two, according to the complaint lodged by Indian team management, had also exchanged words while walking off the ground.
Unlike the modern day stadiums, at Trent Bridge, teams share a common passage to the ground. The dressing rooms are stacked one above the other, with the top floor reserved for the hosts.
The immediate reason for the flare-up is not known but the hostilities between the two were all too visible when Jadeja came out to bat before lunch.
He made a quick-fire 25 off 24 balls that included two sixes. Throughout his stay at the wicket, Anderson sledged Jadeja who complained to the umpire before going off for lunch.
Anderson carried on in the second innings as well. On the morning of the final and the fifth day, he bowled with a lot of fire against Jadeja who was trying to save the game for India.
The Chennai Super Kings player looked completely lost against Andersen’s reverse swing. He finally got off the mark on the 38th ball and hit Anderson for a four. In response, the England quick clapped, mocking Jadeja.
The Indian team management has asked for an “exemplary ban” on Anderson, who scored 81 in the first innings in a record 198-run last-wicket partnership with Joe Root. If found guilty, Anderson, who was declared man-of-the-match for his all-round performance in the drawn game, will have to sit out for at least two Tests or four one-day internationals.
India will play four more Tests, five ODIs and a T20.
The row is likely to sour the recent bonhomie between the ECB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India who joined forces to take over the administration of the ICC. N Srinivasan, forced to step aside as BCCI chief, is the ICC chairman.
India and England have a history at Trent Bridge. In the 2007 Test, it was the “jelly-beans incident” that rocked the tour. An England player threw jelly beans on the wicket when Zaheer Khan was batting. An infuriated Zaheer pointed a warning bat at Kevin Pietersen and had a spat with him.
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