Jimmy Anderson appeal: India pressures ICC to appeal own judgement over Anderson

The encounter is rapidly becoming a saga and a farce

England’s (from left) Alastair Cook, Jimmy Anderson and Steven Finn share a joke during a nets session in Manchester (PA)

The International Cricket Council said today that it was considering an appeal against the verdict of its own judicial commissioner. It was the latest twist in the encounter between two players, Jimmy Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja, which is rapidly becoming a saga and a farce.

Both men were cleared last Friday after a six-hour video conference hearing into the spat between Anderson and Jadeja, which occurred as the players left the field for lunch on the second day of the first Investec Test between England and India at Trent Bridge.

In his leaked written judgement, judicial commissioner Gordon Lewis, acting on behalf of the ICC, said that the witnesses “were hopelessly biased in favour of one side or the other” and he could not reach a satisfactory conclusion. But India made it clear today they were dissatisfied with Anderson being cleared and wanted the ICC to appeal the verdict.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) secretary, Sanjay Patel, told the newspaper Indian Express: “We have written a letter to the ICC. We told them we are not happy with the decision. We have written about the flaws which we find in the process, and also about why there is a need to appeal against this order. BCCI has no right to appeal on the Jadeja-Anderson case now. But ICC, who are the prosecutor, still have the right.”

The ICC confirmed that it had “received and is considering the written decision” and had seven days – until Sunday – to decide whether to lodge an appeal. Under the code only the ICC can appeal, although it had appointed the judicial commissioner who heard the complaint.

India made the original complaint against Anderson under level three of the code, which the ICC then had to prosecute. England reciprocated by laying a level-two charge against Jadeja, who was then found guilty under a reduced level-one charge by match referee David Boon.

Both were cleared of all charges by Judge Lewis when it became clear that he could not be sure what happened at Trent Bridge. It is known they argued heatedly and that Anderson pushed Jadeja, which Anderson claims was in self-defence.

The ICC chief executive, Dave Richardson, will make the decision on the appeal after returning from holiday, along with ICC lawyers. According to reports in India the ICC chairman, N Srinivasan, a former BCCI president, will remain silent on the issue because of his country’s involvement.