Ind vs Eng: Jadeja-Anderson pushgate affair still refuses to die

ICC pays heed to the BCCI's request and are considering appealing judicial commissioner Gordon Lewis' verdict that absolved both James Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja of any wrongdoing in the 1st Test

Manchester: It was one of those typical late-summer days here yesterday when the conditions were chilly and the sky was overcast. But that did not stop both India and England from practicing.


Ravindra Jadeja (left) shakes hands with James Anderson after India's win in the second Test at Lords on July 21. Anderson had allegedly pushed and foul-mouthed Jadeja in the first Test. Pic/AFP 

Nevertheless, "Pushgate" was still the dominant topic barely 48 hours before the start of the crucial fourth Test. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has paid heed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) request and are considering appealing judicial commissioner Gordon Lewis' verdict that absolved both James Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja of any wrongdoing in the 1st Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham owing to lack of evidence.

There was absolutely no word from the Indian think-tank yesterday, but speculation was rife that skipper MS Dhoni would air his views during the pre-match press conference today. BCCI's interim president Shivlal Yadav, however told mid-day: "We have just said that we are not happy with the way the affair has been handled."

The Indian camp is still trying to fathom why Anderson got away when he himself accepted that he pushed and foul-mouthed Jadeja at Nottingham. On the other hand, the English are thrilled to bits after Lewis' verdict and are not the least bothered about what the visitors are planning.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the ICC said yesterday: "The International Cricket Council today confirmed that it has received and is considering the written decision of His Honor Gordon Lewis AM, the Judicial Commissioner, in respect of his findings that England's James Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja of India were not guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct and Player Support Personnel, following an exhaustive disciplinary hearing which was held in Southampton on Friday.

No further comment
"As per Section 8.3.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson has seven days — until Sunday, 10 August — to consider whether to lodge an appeal against the decision.

"The ICC will make no further comment on this matter until the decision has been made." Anderson was in danger of facing a ban of up to four Tests if found guilty of a Level 3 charge of "pushing and abusing" Jadeja in the pavilion stairwell during lunch on day two of the Test in Nottingham, but Lewis had decided neither player had transgressed.

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