ICC punishes England fast bowler for destructive behavior after knee injury in unusual turn of events

The 30-year-old slender fast bowler injured his right knee while delivering the ball in the series opener. Despite trying to push through the pain after a short rain delay, Topley was forced to leave the field after just one more delivery and could not return to the match.

This incident marks yet another unfortunate setback in a career plagued by injuries. As he walked up the steps to the players' pavilion, Topley was seen picking up a chair and forcefully slamming it against the staircase handrail.

Reece Topley was found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC's Code of Conduct, with Article 2.2 relating to "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match." He admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Richie Richardson, the ICC's match referee, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

In addition to his fine, one demerit point was added to Topley's disciplinary record. When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned. However, this was Topley's first such offence within the time period.

This outburst echoed a previous incident he had in Mumbai during the 50-over World Cup in October 2023, when he angrily pushed a chair aside after suffering what would later be diagnosed as a tournament-ending fracture in his left index finger.

While the severity of his latest injury remains uncertain, it has already sidelined him from England's second match in Barbados, which they secured with a seven-wicket victory on Sunday. This adds to a concerning history of injuries, including a stress fracture in his back and a rolled ankle—sustained on a boundary sponge during a practice match in Brisbane—that prevented him from participating in England's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign.

England lead the five-match series 2-0.