By Charles Randall

11 June 2012

Denesh Ramdin, the West Indies wicketkeeper, has been hit with a hefty fine by the ICC for his written note gesture that drew universal condemnation during the rained-off third Test against England at Edgbaston.

Ramdin was fined 20 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct for "conduct contrary to the spirit of the game". He had held up a piece of paper from his pocket with the words "Yeah Viv Talk Nah", which would have baffled most watchers and certainly puzzled Jonathan Agnew commentating on Test Match Special at the time.

Agnew speculated to his TMS summariser Sir Vivan Richards that it might be some form of gratitude, though Sir Viv himself grunted quietly in disagreement. Ramdin, it turned out, having completed a worthy century, was attempting an insult in retaliation for past criticism by the great West Indian. His action was so self-absorbed in the match's context it defied belief.

The lesson here seemed relevant to all levels of cricket, as individual agendas should not overshadow the team ethic. Roshan Mahanama, the ICC match referee, said: "It is important that we do not allow a precedent to be set with such a premeditated celebration by Mr Ramdin. We all understand the importance of celebrating a milestone. However, one should not use that time as an opportunity to hit out at one’s critic or send messages to the world. I hope Mr Ramdin has learnt his lesson from this incident and that we will not see such behaviour by him or any player in the future when celebrating an achievement within a game of international cricket."

Ramdin's comment afterwards was unconvincing, as nothing had been spontaneous, and he showed little contrition. "Sir Viv had something in the press," he said. "I think I got a bit emotional and it came out the way it did. He is a legend of the Caribbean. I still look up to him."

The Edgbaston incident harked back to a similar ruction involving Nasser Hussain against India at Lord's in 2002. Critics were given ammunition to back suggestions that Hussain might be a selfish cricketer, when England's captain gestured with three fingers behind his back to the media centre to indicate that he had scored a century at number three, a top-order position many observers felt he did not justify.

Hussain escaped ICC censure, but the main difference was that England lost the game because he scored more slowly than he should have done, perhaps distracted by his own agenda. His century, his first in 72 one-day internationals, took 118 balls. Though this might sound impressive, it was slower than the match tempo, and India overhauled England's 50-over total of 325. While Hussain was struggling early in his innings -- as the critics feared-- Marcus Trescothick reached his hundred in a mere 89 balls, almost five fewer overs than Hussain needed later.

Hussain commented on the Ramdin incident in the Daily Mail and recalled his hundred, the only one of his long England one-day career. "I decided to use the criticism I’d received about my role in the one-day side from Jonathan Agnew, Ian Botham and Bob Willis as a motivational factor," he said. "When I reached three figures, I felt I would not have been true to myself had I not carried through with the promise I’d made to myself — so I ended up doing my mad gesticulations." The consequences of his behaviour were not mentioned. Personal agendas should be banned from a cricket field.