19 Dec 2009

West Indies may still appeal against Benn's suspension

6:56 am on 19 December 2009

The West Indies cricket team are yet to rule out an appeal against Sulieman Benn's two-match limited overs suspension for his part in an ugly confrontation with Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin.

However match referee Chris Broad believes Benn has learned his lesson from the incident and will tone down his behaviour in future.

Johnson and Haddin were handed lesser sanctions, losing 10 per cent and 25 per cent of their match fees respectively, and Broad was critical of Haddin for his role as an inflamer of the incident.

Broad announced the penalties on the third morning of the third Test between Australia and the West Indies at the WACA ground, saying Benn's attitude demonstrated he understood he had done the wrong thing in a physical clash with Johnson that escalated with provocation from Haddin.

However Benn pleaded not guilty to the charge of bringing the game into disrepute, and it remains to be seen whether or not the West Indies will contest the sanction.

Both Haddin and Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge, which helped to reduce their penalties.

The ICC says all four umpires had laid the charges against Benn.

Benn has the right to appeal the match referee's decision within 48 hours of the decision being handed down.

His captain Chris Gayle seemed adamant on the second evening that Benn had not initiated the physical contact that helped attract the charge.

But all rounder Dwayne Bravo said after the third day that the team had moved on.