England fast bowler Reece Topley has been fined 15% of his match fee by the ICC following an emotional reaction to a fresh injury during the first T20I against West Indies in Barbados. The incident occurred when the 30-year-old jarred his right knee during his delivery stride. Despite briefly attempting to continue after a rain delay, he was forced to leave the field mid-over and played no further part in the game.
As Topley ascended the steps to the players' pavilion, frustration got the better of him. He picked up a chair and smashed it against the staircase handrail—a reaction eerily reminiscent of his outburst during the 2023 ODI World Cup in Mumbai, where a broken finger ended his tournament and prompted him to shove a chair out of his way.
This latest injury forced Topley to sit out England's second T20I in Barbados, which the team won by seven wickets. It adds to a long list of setbacks in a career plagued by injuries, including a stress fracture of the back and a rolled ankle during a practice match in Brisbane that ruled him out of England's victorious T20 World Cup campaign in 2022.
Unlike his Mumbai outburst, which went unpunished, this time Topley was found guilty of breaching Level 1 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct. The breach pertained to "abuse of cricket equipment, clothing, ground equipment, or fixtures and fittings during an International Match." Topley admitted to the offence and accepted the penalty proposed by match referee Richie Richardson, avoiding the need for a formal hearing.
In addition to the fine, Topley received a demerit point on his disciplinary record. While accumulating four demerit points within 24 months leads to suspension, this was his first offence in the given timeframe.
Topley’s career continues to be overshadowed by injuries, and fans will hope for better news regarding the severity of his latest setback as England prepares for the remainder of the series.