Hinds fined for 'intentional throwing'

West Indies batsman Wavell Hinds has been fined 100 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the fourth Test match against South Africa.

Hinds was found guilty of intentionally no-balling and throwing the ball at South African skipper Graeme Smith.

Hinds was found to have breached Level 2 code for intentional throwing and overstepping the popping crease and generally unacceptable conduct.

The incident occurred during the final day's play when Hinds, an occasional medium-pacer, hurled the ball down after over-stepping the crease by a yard.

The ball ran away for four off the inside edge of Smith's bat, but umpires Billy Bowden and Simon Taufel then had to intervene to calm things down.

The ball ran away for four off the inside edge of Smith's bat, but umpires Billy Bowden and Simon Taufel then had to intervene to calm things down.

It was reportedly triggered by alleged comments by Smith to West Indies batsman Dwayne Bravo as he advanced to his maiden Test century earlier in the day.

All Level 2 breaches carry a minimum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee and a maximum penalty of their full match fee and/or a one Test match or two One-Day International match ban.

The charge was originally brought by the match umpires as a Level 3 offence but, after considering the evidence, Crowe used the discretion available to him to reduce it to a Level 2 offence.

Crowe reached his conclusion after a hearing attended by Mr Hinds, West Indies Team Manager Tony Howard and umpires Billy Bowden, Simon Taufel and Basil Morgan.

For Level 1 and Level 2 breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct the ICC Match Referee's decision is final and binding.

The ICC press release explained Hinds behaviour as 'conduct contrary to the spirit of the game'.