Collingwood breaches ICC code

25 June 2008

Paul Collingwood directs proceedings in the field during the fourth ODI

England captain Paul Collingwood has been found guilty of a Level 3 breach of the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct for England’s slow over-rate in the fourth match of the NatWest Series.

Teams are required to bowl 50 overs in three and a half hours in one-day internationals, but England failed to do so by three overs on the way to a one-wicket defeat by New Zealand at the Brit Oval.

A deficit of more than two overs brings with it an automatic Level 2 charge against the captain involved, but as Collingwood has been found guilty of the same offence in the past year - against India at Bristol last August - the charge was elevated to Level 3.

Collingwood faces a minimum ban of four ODIs or two Tests – or a combination of the two - and he will meet match referee Javagal Srinath on Thursday afternoon when his punishment will be determined.

While Collingwood will not be punished financially for England’s slow over-rate on top of his ban, the remainder of the England players have been fined 15 per cent of their match fee.

Collingwood was found guilty at a post-match hearing which was also attended by England coach Peter Moores, team operations manager Phil Neale, on-field umpires Steve Davis and Mark Benson, television umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth official Peter Hartley.

Collingwood can appeal against the ban, although any appeals must be lodged in writing within 24 hours of the original verdict.