Reece Topley fined 15 percent of his match fee after smashing a chair during 1st WI vs ENG 2024 T20I
England pace bowler Reece Topley sustained yet another injury during the first T20I against the West Indies in Barbados, adding to the long list that traces back to his days as a youngster.
The frustrated left-arm bowler, after jarring his right knee during the delivery stride, vented his frustration by smashing a chair on the staircase handrail on his way back to the dressing room after bowling only 2.4 overs. Topley had attempted to complete his over after a short rain break, but could not continue and had to walk off the field entirely.
The act of property damage has resulted in a 15 percent match fee fine by the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the addition of a demerit point to his record. According to the guidelines, a player faces a suspension when he accumulates four or more demerit points in the span of two years, but Topley does not face such a predicament since there were no points on his record during the timeframe.
Topley was found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC's Code of Conduct, with Article 2.2 relating to "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match."
The bowler admitted to the charges levied against him, and accepted the sanction issued by the match referee, Richie Richardson. Thus, a formal hearing has not been scheduled, and the matter can be deemed closed.
Topley was not included in the playing XI for the second T20I at the same venue, with Jofra Archer taking his place. There is no official update regarding the severity of the left-arm pacer's injury, or his availability for the remainder of three matches of the series to be played in St. Lucia.
Reece Topley was involved in a similar incident during the 2023 ODI World Cup
The England bowler sustained one of his many unfortunate injuries during the 2023 ODI World Cup group stage clash against South Africa at the Wankhede Stadium. He broke his finger while attempting to stop the ball in the ninth over of his spell.
On that occasion too, he had thrown a chair in anger due to the injury, which eventually ended his campaign. The finger injury had come on the back of a serious shoulder dislocation during the early stages of the IPL while playing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).