Umpire Michael Gough speaks with Virat Kohli and Australia’s Sam Konstas of Australia on day 1 of the fourth Test in Melbourne on December 26, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Virat Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct on the first day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on Thursday (December 26, 2024).

The former Indian captain had cut across the pitch and brushed his shoulder against Australian debutant Sam Konstas in the morning. The youngster reacted and Usman Khawaja stepped in as the mediator.

According to an ICC press-release, “Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to inappropriate physical contact with a player.” The statement also added: “One demerit point has been added to Kohli’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.”

After ‘on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig levelled the charge,’ the ICC further elaborated: “Kohli admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft, the match referee.”

File photo of Zimbabwe’s Andy Pycroft. Pycroft became the fourth official in the history of men’s Test cricket to complete 100 games as a match referee.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Pycroft on Thursday (December 26, 2024) became only the fourth official in the history of men’s Test cricket to complete 100 games as a match referee with the Boxing Day contest between India and Australia that began here on Thursday.

The exclusive list is led by former Sri Lanka player Ranjan Madugalle as the most experienced match referee with 225 Tests, followed by New Zealand’s Jeff Crowe (125) and England’s Chris Broad (123).

The 68-year-old Pycroft played three Tests and 20 ODIs for Zimbabwe from 1983-1992.

“Pycroft, who has also officiated in 238 men’s ODIs, 174 men’s T20Is and 21 women’s T20Is since 2009, said he has enjoyed every minute of the journey to 100 matches as a match referee,’ the ICC said on its website.

Pycroft said touching the mark is a great honour and he is thankful to have been afforded the opportunity to officiate all over the world, “embracing different cultures.”

“It has been a rewarding journey and I have treasured every moment of it,” he added.