Joe Burns and Ryan Harris fined by CA for misconduct
What's the story?
Brisbane Heat batsman Joe Burns and Cricket Australia's High-Performance Coach Ryan Harris have been handed fines by the Australian cricket board for varying offences related to the same incident in Big Bash League 2017-18. While Burns was docked $6,000, Harris was handed a fine of $3,000.
In case you didn't know..
The drama started when Burns' teammate Alex Ross was dismissed for obstructing the field during a BBL match between Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes. Ross was sprinting for a second run at the Gabba just as the throw arrived from the deep mid-wicket fielder Jofra Archer. In an attempt to save himself from being struck by the ball, Ross changed course while running. The ball then hit his bat and disturbed the bails.
The third umpire, after much deliberation, ruled him out for obstructing the field rather than having fallen short of the crease, as Ross was well beyond the line when the bails were dislodged.
The heart of the matter
Burns, meanwhile, who has represented Australia in 13 Tests and 6 ODIs thus far, was alleged to have used “language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during a match" while sitting in the Heat dugout after the incident involving Ross. Harris, meanwhile, attracted the attention of his bosses by labelling the decision to declare Ross out as “very very embarrassing” and “absolutely shocking”.
"Every player and any player support personnel are required to adhere to Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct. This includes any person employed by, contracted to, representing or otherwise affiliated to CA or any State or Territory Association or BBL/ WBBL team,” read a statement from a Cricket Australia spokesman.
What's next?
This was already Burns' second offence in the last 18 months, having last been fined 20 percent of his match fee for “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a match”.
In Harris' case, the spokesperson said, “The proposed sanction was a reprimand and fine of $3,000, fully suspended, subject to Harris not being found guilty of any further breach of the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct for a period of 24 months from 10 January 2018.”
Author's take
While a bad umpiring decision is understandable, to react in an aggressive manner against authority is demeaning and does not present a great example to hundreds of cricket fans. Hence, both Burns and Harris, with the latter choosing social media to express his anger, should not have said, or written, the things they did in that manner.