Moeen Ali fined after using drying spray in first Ashes Test

England spinner Moeen Ali has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee and handed a one demerit point for using a drying spray on his hands in the first Ashes Test against Australia.

The incident was seen in the 89th over on Saturday as Moeen did not receive the umpires’ consent to use the spray.

The International Cricket Council accepted that Moeen used the spray to dry his hands and was not an attempt to alter the condition of the ball, which is a much more serious offence.

The 36-year-old is playing his first Test since September 2021 after being coaxed out of retirement by captain Ben Stokes.

Moeen took two wickets on day two at Edgbaston, with Travis Head caught at short midwicket and Cameron Green bowled.

A statement from the ICC read: ‘England all-rounder Moeen Ali has been found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct and will be fined 25 per cent of his match fee from the first Ashes Test against Australia.

‘Moeen Ali was found to have breached Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to displaying conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.

‘One demerit point has been added to Moeen’s disciplinary record for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. This was the England all-rounder’s first offence in the past 24 months.

‘The incident occurred during the 89th over of Australia’s first innings at Edgbaston when Moeen was seen applying a drying agent to his bowling hand at the boundary line while fielding.

‘Moeen admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

‘In reaching his decision to sanction the player along with the Level 1 sanction he imposed, the Match Referee was satisfied that the cream was applied to the finger only to dry his hands. The cream was not applied as an artificial substance to the ball and consequently, it did not change the condition of the ball, which would have been in breach of clause 41.3 of the ICC playing conditions – Unfair Play – The Match Ball – Changing its Condition.

‘On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Marais Erasmus, third umpire Chris Gaffaney and fourth umpire Mike Burns levelled the charge.

‘Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.’

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