Ben Stokes was charged with using offensive language on the field of play during the first day in Mohali following a heated exchange with India’s captain, Virat Kohli. But while Stokes was given an official reprimand by the International Cricket Council after stumps, Kohli escaped any censure from the governing body despite an apparent send-off when the all-rounder was dismissed during the afternoon.
Kolhi, who had earlier been spoken to by the umpires for throwing a ball at Jonny Bairstow, is understood to have sworn at Stokes after he was stumped for 29 off left-arm spinner Ravi Jadeja, with the all-rounder then stopping on his way to the pavilion and offering a retort of a similarly crude nature.
Only this response from Stokes was reported by umpires Marais Erasmus and Chris Gaffeney, however, and he was called in front of ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle after the close. A level one charge followed but, by accepting this, he avoided a fine.
Bairstow, who was at the non-striker’s end at the time, said: “I didn’t actually hear anything, because there are a lot of squealing people in the crowds. I couldn’t (tell you) the exact words that were said.
“It’s something that’s probably going more out of the game, verbals and things like that. If you go back 10 years it was a bigger part of the game. But I think you’ve also got to respect you’ve got guys out there who are very passionate, representing their country in the heat of battle.
“At some point, there are going to be words said. That’s the nature of professional sport. But I don’t know what was said. I don’t really get too involved with all that kind of stuff.”
It is the second time Stokes has been disciplined for verbals this winter after being fined 15% of his match fee for an exchange with Bangladesh batsman, Sabbir Rahman, during the second Test in Dhaka last month. The 26-year-old now has two demerit points on his disciplinary record and should two further points be incurred in the next 24 months, a ban will follow.
News of Stokes’ reprimand completed a tough first day for England. Bairstow, who from his new position at No5 marshalled a lower order rally, remained upbeat at the close despite venting his own frustration at being dismissed 11 runs short of what would have been his fourth Test century this year.
He added: “Obviously, having won the toss, it was disappointing to lose the wickets we have. But at the same time, it could have been a disastrous day if we hadn’t knuckled down and worked hard. We’re fighting; we’re in the battle.
“The confidence the captain has shown in me, to bat me at five, is really good – and I’d like to think I’ve repaid that faith today.
“I was really cheesed off to get out like that this evening. That hurt me pretty bad to get out like that, because I thought I’d played quite nicely throughout the day.”
