24 Feb 2016

Hazlewood fined for outburst

6:11 am on 24 February 2016

Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee after he was charged with dissent on day four of the second trans-Tasman Test in Christchurch.

Josh Hazlewood

Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood, centre, in action during Tuesday's play in Christchurch. Photo: AFP

Hazlewood pleaded guilty in a hearing with match referee Chris Broad, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) expected to release details of the punishment shortly.

First-time offenders often get away with a reprimand but that is unlikely to be the case given the nature of Hazlewood's misdeed.

Stump microphones picked up the spearhead swearing after a controversial verdict from third umpire Richard Illingworth in Christchurch.

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Australia reviewed an lbw shout from Hazlewood in the final over of Tuesday's morning session, with Illingworth deciding the Black Caps' Kane Williamson edged the ball before it hit his pads.

Hazlewood and his skipper, Steve Smith, both rushed up to controlling umpire Ranmore Martinesz to query the process and the verdict.

"What! It hit his foot ... who the f*** is third umpire?," Hazlewood said.

Smith angrily confronted Martinesz, uttered some terse words then turned on his heel and shook his head in disgust.

It appears Smith has avoided sanction.

Hazlewood remained furious, giving New Zealand allrounder Corey Anderson a spray at the end of the session.

"I didn't actually hear anything. I got told that he was saying something to me. I'm actually deaf in my left ear," Anderson said.

"He could have been on my wrong side. Whether he said something or not I'm not too concerned."

Both on-field umpires had a word with Hazlewood at the time.

Written notes were taken by the officials as substitute fielder Glenn Maxwell helped drag Hazlewood off the field.

"He was frustrated that he didn't get the rewards for bowling well," Australian bowler Jackson Bird said.

"Test cricket is a hard game and sometimes tempers can boil over and people can get frustrated.

"It was probably the frustration of the whole [wicket-less] session.

"I don't think anyone's stepped over the line but if they did, the ICC will I suppose take that out of our hands."

Anderson had no complaints about Australia's conduct during the unsavoury episode.

"You hear bits and pieces, everyone was unsure of what was going on," he said.

"If we can start frustrating the other side, then that's obviously ticking the box for us, and a win."

Former New Zealand players Ian Smith and Mark Richardson, both in the commentary box during the incident, were highly critical of Smith and Hazlewood.

"I'm sorry but that's intolerable," Richardson said.

ICC boss David Richardson vowed last year there would be a "crackdown" on player behaviour.

"The behaviour in some matches by some players was deemed to be unacceptable and not a good example to young fans," Richardson said.

"For a first offence, you'll likely end up with a fine."

Hazlewood was mocked by the crowd at Hagley Oval after lunch on Tuesday, with New Zealand fans screaming at him to "watch that language".

-AAP