Publications
Partners
London - The West Indies' disappointment in losing the first Test against England by five wickets at Lord's here on Monday was compounded by fines for skipper Darren Sammy and his players for a slow over-rate.
If they infringe again during the second Test at Trent Bridge starting Friday, all-rounder Sammy could be banned from the third and final Test of the series at Edgbaston.
An International Cricket Council (ICC) statement issued after close of play said match referee Roshan Mahanama of Sri Lanka had ruled the West Indies were four overs short of their target when time allowances were taken into consideration.
Under the ICC code of conduct, players are fined 10% of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.
As such, Sammy was fined 80% of his match fee while his players received 40% fines.
The ICC statement added: "If Sammy is found guilty of one more minor over-rate offence in Tests over the next 12 months, he will receive a one-match suspension as per the provisions of the ICC code of conduct."
West Indies' team at Lord's had no specialist spinner although Sammy said afterwards that occasional off-break bowler Marlon Samuels had been pressed into service in part to speed up the over-rate.
The second Test starts on Friday.
