Moeen Ali, the talented all-rounder from England, found himself in the spotlight recently due to a breach of the Code of Conduct during the ongoing first Ashes Test against Australia. On the second day of the match, Moeen was observed applying a drying agent on his bowling hand during Australia’s first innings. The International Cricket Council (ICC) took notice of this act and determined that Moeen had violated Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. As a consequence, he was fined 25 percent of his match fee and received one demerit point.
Brad Hogg, a former spinner from Australia, expressed his disappointment with the ICC’s decision and regarded it as “unfair.” In a tweet, Hogg conveyed his viewpoint, stating that a 25 percent fine seemed excessive for the situation at hand. He believed that Moeen’s intention was solely to prevent his blister from worsening, and there was no ulterior motive behind his actions. Hogg further mentioned that Moeen could have discreetly used the spray off the field, but instead, he opted to apply it openly. In Hogg’s opinion, Moeen’s actions were worthy of recognition and appreciation, not punishment. He concluded his tweet with the hashtag #Ashes2023, implying that fair play had not been upheld in this instance.
