England’s fast bowler Reece Topley has come under fire for how he handled yet another injury sustained during the first Twenty20 match against the West Indies. Due to his furious outburst, he was fined and was unable to play in the second Twenty20 match. Following a 2-1 loss in the ODI series, England leads the series 2-0 going into Thursday’s last Twenty20 encounter in Saint Lucia.
When Topley was seen violently smashing a chair onto the stair railing in the players’ pavilion after injuring his right knee while bowling, the ICC disciplined him for his theatrics. The ICC penalized him 15% of his match fee. This was in line with Article 2.2 of the Code of Conduct, which addresses “abuse of cricket equipment or fixtures” during a match.
Topley tried to complete his over following a rain delay in Barbados, but he was forced to withdraw because of the severity of his injuries. There was no need for a formal hearing because he acknowledged the crime and paid the ICC’s fine.
Topley was given one demerit point on his disciplinary record in addition to the fine. Even though this is his first offense, he might receive suspension points and a ban if he accrues four demerit points in two years.
This incident displays Topley’s ongoing struggle with injuries and how they have affected his career. He had voiced similar displeasure following an injury to his left index finger sustained during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
There is no set timeframe for a return, and it is still unclear how severe the current condition is. Topley’s injury prevented him from participating in Sunday’s second Twenty20 match, which has led to speculation about whether he will play in the series’ remaining games.
Topley’s career has been marred by a number of injuries, such as a back stress fracture and an ankle issue that kept him out of action during England’s successful 2022 T20 World Cup campaign. His present outburst shows how badly his career has been impacted by these setbacks.
