Frustrated by the unsuccessful appeals, emotions boiled over and Australia captain Steve Smith and bowler Josh Hazlewood angrily debated the calls with Sri Lanka umpire Ranmore Martinesz.
According to cricket.com.au, the ICC has fined Hazlewood 15 per cent of his match fee for “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an global match” after he was heard swearing when his lbw appeal against Kane Williamson was turned down by the Decision Review System (DRS).
Steve Smith led Australia took over its superiority in the Test format as they reaching the top of the Test rankings after they beat New Zealand by 7 wickets to clinch the Trans-Tasman series.
Hazlewood pleaded guilty in a hearing with match referee Chris Broad, with the International Cricket Council handing down the monetary punishment yesterday.
“But in the series that we’ve had, I don’t think they’ve ever looked to step over the line”.
Former New Zealand players Ian Smith and Mark Richardson, both in the commentary box during the incident, were highly critical of Australia’s conduct.
McCullum, who has won a handful of “spirit of cricket” awards, felt Smith had improved the reputation of the Australian side.
“They didn’t use the Real Time Snicko – I thought that they should have in this instance and they didn’t do that and that’s what I was questioning the umpire for”. Hazlewood lost his cool and let out a few expletives while Smith confronted Martinesz mid-pitch to show his disappointment at the turn of events and question the decision to rule in favour of Williamson.
Teammate Jackson Bird doesn’t feel Hazlewood crossed the line and believes the problem lies elsewhere.
Hazlewood then appeared to have words with New Zealand allrounder Corey Anderson at the end of the session.
“I didn’t actually hear anything”.
“The behaviour in some matches by some players was deemed to be unacceptable and not a good example to young fans”, Richardson said. “He plays the game for the right reasons”, he said.
“He’s been on tour a while now, he’s probably a little bit exhausted, he just wants to win badly”.
“Brendon has been a great ambassador, and a great captain and leader for the game”, Smith said.
“We’ve talked quite a bit and he gave me a bit of criticism in England with the Ben Stokes dismissal”, Smith said. You try and learn from different things.