Moeen Ali fined 25% of match fee over use of unauthorised drying agent

Moeen Ali has been fined 25% of his match fee and handed one demerit point after admitting to using an unauthorised drying agent on his bowling hand in the first Ashes Test.

In announcing the decision, the International Cricket Council accepted Moeen, who is making his Test return this week after a near two-year absence, used the spray to dry his hands and not in an attempt to alter the condition of the ball. However, its use was in contravention of the umpires’ pre-series instruction against players using anything on their hands without prior approval.

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An ICC statement said: “England player Moeen Ali has been fined 25% of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC code of conduct during the first Test against Australia in Birmingham on Saturday.

“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.

“In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Ali’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.”

Ravindra Jadeja was also fined 25% of his match fee in February for failing to notify umpires he was applying ointment to a sore finger during India’s first Test against Australia. But the ICC cleared the all-rounder of tampering with the ball after the incident sparked international debate.