ICC not to appeal against verdict on Anderson spat

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Wednesday decided not to appeal against the decision of judicial commissioner Gordon Lewis in the spat between England pacer James Anderson and Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.

But the ICC stressed that there was no place for personal insults in the game.

Anderson was charged with a Level 3 offence for his spat with Jadeja during the first Test in Nottingham. Anderson was staring at a three-Test ban but he was let off by Lewis on the ground of lack of video evidence and impartial testimony.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had requested the ICC to appeal against Lewis' decision on Anderson.

After assessing the content of the decision, the ICC said it was satisfied with the reasons provided and has elected not to exercise its discretion to appeal against the decision relating to Anderson.

"This outcome is the result of two exhaustive and thorough disciplinary processes and, after considering the written decision, the ICC is satisfied with the manner in which the decisions have been reached," said ICC chief executive Dave Richardson.

"It was a complicated and sensitive matter relating to charges brought against two players at different levels of the ICC Code of Conduct. There appears to have been vastly conflicting evidence on both sides, with a total of 13 witnesses who gave testimony. After carefully considering the decision by Gordon Lewis, whose vast experience was invaluable to the process over recent weeks, we believe that no further purpose would be served by prolonging the process through further appeal proceedings," he added.

Commenting generally, however, on the use of offensive language, Richardson said international cricket is tough, competitive and uncompromising, but there is no place in the game for the use of offensive language that is personally insulting of one player by another.

"It is imperative that all captains, players and coaches as well as umpires and referees are reminded of and do not shirk their responsibility to one another and to the game," he said.