Jadeja will play no part in the third Test against Sri Lanka

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will miss the third Test against Sri Lanka in Pallekele as he was suspended for accumulating six demerit points within a 24-month period.

Jadeja, who had three demerit points to his name prior to the start of the second Test in Colombo, was fined 50 per cent of his match fee and given more demerit points after he fielded the ball of his own bowling and threw it back at Sri Lanka debutant Malinda Pushpakumara “in a dangerous manner”, according to Rod Tucker and Bruce Oxenford, who were the on-field umpires.

Jadeja was subsequently found guilty of breaching article 2.2.8 of the player’s code of conduct, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match”.

The 28-year-old’s absence in the third Test will be a big blow for India as he scored 85 runs in the first two Tests at an average of 85 and is the highest wicket-taker with 13 scalps at an average of 28.76.

Should Jadeja pick up two more demerit points before October 2018, he will be banned for two Tests, four ODIs or four Twenty20 Internationals.

India already hold an unassailable 2-0 lead going into the third Test, which begins on August 12.