Warne slapped with new fine

Australian veteran Shane Warne was on Monday fined Aus$5,000 (US$5,250) for a code of behaviour breach in the domestic Big Bash League, his second penalty this month, cricket officials said. Cricket Australia said Warne was fined following a disciplinary hearing into his failure to list himself as captain during the Melbourne Stars' semi-final against the Perth Scorchers in a bid to dodge a penalty for a slow over-rate. Warne had previously been issued with one strike for a slow over rate violation and a second strike this season would have resulted in an automatic one-match suspension. "Warne was found guilty of breaching Rule 5: Laws of Cricket and Spirit of the Game by Commissioner Arthur Lodge," said Cricket Australia. The 43-year-old spinner was not present at the hearing and was represented by Melbourne Stars officials. Warne apologised earlier this month after a foul-mouthed rant against West Indian all-rounder Marlon Samuels that earned him a ban and a Aus$4,500 fine. He claimed 708 Test wickets in a celebrated career but has also courted controversy, notably when he was fined for accepting money from a bookmaker and sent home from the 2003 World Cup for taking a banned diuretic. From AFP