India’s Mohammed Siraj Faces ICC Action for Overzealous Celebration at Lord’s

In a heated moment during the fourth day of the third Test match between India and England at Lord’s, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was fined 15% of his match fee and handed one demerit point by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his aggressive send-off to England opener Ben Duckett. The incident took place during England’s second innings, and Siraj’s conduct has since drawn scrutiny.

What Happened? Siraj’s Celebration Sparks Controversy

The fiery incident occurred in the 6th over of England’s second innings on Day 4 of the match. Ben Duckett, who was opening for England, mistimed a shot and was caught by Jasprit Bumrah at mid-on. A visibly fired-up Siraj ran down the pitch in celebration, stopping near Duckett, shouting aggressively, and even brushed shoulders with the batter as he walked off.

Such conduct, although fueled by adrenaline and match pressure, falls under Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which prohibits “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal during an international match.”

ICC’s Official Statement on the Matter

The ICC released a statement on Monday confirming the punishment and violation:

0“Mohammed Siraj has been fined 15 percent of his match fee after a breach in the ICC Code of Conduct during India’s Test match against England at Lord’s. After the dismissal, Siraj celebrated close to the batter in his follow-through and made contact as Duckett began his walk back to the Lord’s long room.”This was Siraj’s second offence within a 24-month period, which resulted in one demerit point being added to his disciplinary record. His total now stands at two demerit points, a concerning trend if he continues to accumulate more.What Are Demerit Points and Why Do They Matter?Under ICC rules, four or more demerit points within a 24-month period can lead to a ban of one or more matches (depending on severity). Two demerit points are not enough for a suspension yet, but the margin for error for Siraj is now very narrow.

While emotional reactions are often seen in competitive cricket, line-crossing behavior like physical contact or aggressive gestures is actively discouraged by the governing body.

India vs England 3rd Test – Match Summary (Till Day 4)

While the Siraj-Duckett episode stole headlines, the actual cricket on the field has also been intense. Here’s a quick summary of the ongoing third Test match:

➤ First Innings:

India: 387 all out
England: 387 all out
Both teams posted identical totals, setting up a rare perfectly level contest after the first innings.

➤ Second Innings:

England: 192 all out in 62.1 overs
- Top Wickets:
  - Washington Sundar: 4/22
  - Jasprit Bumrah & Mohammed Siraj: 2 wickets each
  - Nitish Kumar Reddy & Akash Deep: 1 wicket each

England suffered a second-innings collapse under relentless Indian bowling. Washington Sundar’s spin made a major impact on a Day 4 pitch.

➤ India Chasing 193 Runs:

India: 58/4 at the end of Day 4
- Still need 135 runs with 6 wickets remaining
- Top-order failure once again leaves pressure on the middle and lower order

What’s at Stake: Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

This five-match Test series is being played for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, named after English bowling great James Anderson and Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.

The series is currently level at 1-1
A win in this Test will give India a 2-1 series lead

This context only adds to the intensity and emotional heat of the game — which may have influenced Siraj’s passionate outburst.

Reactions from the Cricketing World

While the ICC has penalised Siraj, reactions among fans and pundits have been mixed:

Some defend Siraj, citing the passion and heat of the contest
Others criticise his actions as unsportsmanlike, especially at the “home of cricket” — Lord’s
Ben Duckett, the recipient of the send-off, has not yet made a public statement