The ICC today announced that James Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja would, after all, be punished for their unsightly spat at Trent Bridge. Chief executive Dave Robertson issued the following statement:

“Following the report of the judicial commissioner, it has been decided that, as Anderson and Jadeja conducted themselves like a couple of idiotic schoolboys, they will be punished as idiotic schoolboys. Both will have their heads banged together and, additionally, Anderson will receive a clip round the ear.”

Richardson further announced that the two players will receive detention for their actions: “They will be made to sit facing one another, writing ‘I will not behave like a 12-year-old’ out a thousand times. Any kicking under the table or sticking out of tongues will result in a further detention. Both will be banned from afternoon games until they’ve completed their punishment. They will also have their tuck allowance removed for two weeks.”

In one respect, however, Richardson was disappointed with the decision: “I have elected not to appeal the decision of the judicial commissioner, though I must profess myself disappointed that he was not comfortably satisfied that either Anderson or Jadeja deserved a damn good thrashing. I had got my old birch rod out of the cabinet and everything.”