Australian paceman Brett Lee has been fined 25 percent of his match fee for excessive appealing during the second Ashes Test against England at Adelaide Oval, the ICC said Monday.
International Cricket Council match referee Jeff Crowe dismissed Lee's claim that he thought West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor had given England's Kevin Pietersen out leg before wicket early on the second day of the Test.
"Brett is confused about this verdict, in that he thought he saw the umpire gesture that it was out," Crowe said in fining Lee 3,125 dollars (2,400 USD) of his match fee. "The simple fact is that Brett did not stop and wait for the umpire's actual decision, out or not out, before starting his celebrations, something that has been stipulated over the past three years." Lee's sanction continued a poor disciplinary record for the Australian team over the past 18 months.