Mohammed Siraj Fined for Fired-Up Send-Off to Duckett at Lord’s

Mohammed Siraj’s fiery competitive spirit landed him in hot water during the fourth morning of the third Test at Lord’s. The Indian fast bowler has been fined 15 percent of his match fee and received a demerit point for an animated send-off aimed at England opener Ben Duckett.

The incident unfolded during the sixth over of England’s second innings, when Siraj got Duckett caught at mid-on. Rather than simply turning away to celebrate, Siraj charged forward, screamed in Duckett’s face, and got uncomfortably close. The two players brushed shoulders as Duckett walked off, clearly not amused. 

It didn’t go unnoticed. The ICC charged Siraj with a Level 1 breach of the Code of Conduct, citing “excessive celebration at close proximity to the dismissed batter.” According to Article 2.5 of the ICC’s Code, such behaviour has the potential to provoke a reaction from the departing batter — which is exactly why the rules exist. 

This wasn’t Siraj’s first strike. It’s now his second demerit point in less than two years — his first came in the Adelaide Test against Australia back in December 2024. Players who rack up four or more demerit points in a 24-month period face suspension, so Siraj will have to tread more carefully moving forward. 

The Test match itself was already simmering with tension, and this moment only added fuel to the fire. Just a day earlier, things got a bit testy when England’s Zak Crawley took his time at the crease, seemingly to ensure his side only had to face one over before stumps. That didn’t go down well with the Indian players. Ironically, India returned the favour the following evening, with nightwatchman Akash Deep engaging in some time-buying tactics of his own. 

In the end, Siraj admitted to his mistake and accepted the punishment proposed by match referee Richie Richardson, meaning there was no need for a formal hearing. The charge was brought forward by the on-field umpiring team: Paul Reiffel and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, along with third umpire Ahsan Raza and fourth umpire Graham Lloyd. 

Siraj has built a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve, and moments like these are part of what make him such a fiery competitor. But with two demerit points now on his record, he’ll need to keep his emotions in check, especially with India still neck-deep in a high-pressure series.