Warne banned after Samuels clash
Cricket:Shane Warne has been banned for one match and fined for his clash with Marlon Samuels in Sunday's Big Bash Melbourne derby.
Melbourne Stars skipper Warne engaged in a verbal war of words with Samuels at the MCG, before the former Australian spinner threw the ball into the West Indian's midriff in the act of returning it to the wicketkeeper.
That prompted Samuels to hurl his bat in Warne's direction, sparking more angry exchanges as the umpires attempted to calm matters in a match that the Renegades eventually won by nine wickets.
Warne, whose side face the Sydney Thunder on Tuesday looking for a place in the semi-finals, said he went "too far" and that he accepted the punishment.
He tweeted: "I have decided to accept my penalty of a 1 match ban! Let's hope the boys can win tomorrow & we can make the semi finals... Thanks for support guys, sport can be an emotional & at times very passionate too. I went to far in trying to stand up for the team!!"
However, he also said he felt he had been harshly treated.
He tweeted: "I'm disappointed at some of my actions last night as captain & as a player,but I'm also very disappointed at the severe penalty I received!"
Both Warne and Samuels were charged following the incident, although Samuels did not face the charges this morning as he suffered a serious blow to his eye after top-edging a delivery from Lasith Malinga into his face.
Warne, though, was suspended for breaching Cricket Australia code of behaviour rule 2.2, which states that a player not "engage in inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with other players or officials".
Under this rule, Warne was fined AUS$3,000 and suspended for tomorrow night's clash with the Sydney Thunder.
The Stars skipper was fined a further thousand dollars for using obscene language towards Samuels after he caught yelling "f*** you, Marlon" at the West Indian.
And Warne was also stung for AUS$500 fine under rule 1.2 which addresses showing dissent at an umpire's decision.
Warne was initially charged under rule 2.1, which involves showing "serious dissent" at decisions, but this charge was downgraded.
However, the charge of "throwing a ball at a player in a dangerous or inappropriate manner" was dismissed.
Samuels has also been charged with two breaches of the CA code of behaviour for "engaging in inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with other players or officials" and also under rule 6, which states "players and officials must not at any time engage in behaviour unbecoming to a representative player or official that could (a) bring them or the game of cricket into disrepute or (b) be harmful to the interests of cricket".
Regardless of the charges, Samuels's participation in the Big Bash League may be over for this summer as the Renegades wait for swelling around his eye to subside in order to determine the extent of his injury.
With some reports suggesting Samuels has a broken eye socket, the Renegades are already looking at bringing in a replacement for the West Indian.
"Marlon is recovering in the team hotel and will be taking time off to care for his injury," said Renegades coach Simon Helmot. "We're now waiting for the swelling around his eye to subside before determining the full extent of the blow. We are also assessing what, if anything, this means in terms of squad composition for the remainder of the tournament and will take action to source an international replacement if necessary.
"You've got to feel for Marlon and we're continuing to do everything we can as a team to support him during his recovery."
Along with Warne and Samuels, Melbourne Stars batsman Cameron White was also charged for dissent after objecting to an umpire's decision.
