MELBOURNE (Reuters)
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has been fined 40% of his match fee for showing dissent by Hanumant Singh, the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee.

Fleming was reported by umpires Darrell Hair and Simon Taufel after an incident early in Tuesday's VB Series game against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Fleming had hit legspinner Shane Warne for a boundary, then complained to the umpires that Australia's captain Steve Waugh had placed an extra fielder in the deep when only two were allowed outside the circle. Hair eventually decided to call a no-ball from square leg.

"After considering all the arguments from both sides, Stephen Fleming's past record, and the fact that to the best of my knowledge this is the first incident of its kind, but keeping in mind the ICC's express concern to speed up the process of cleaning up the game of its unsavoury elements, it has been decided to fine Stephen Fleming 40% of his match fee for violation of the ICC code No. 3, namely showing dissent to the umpire's decision," said Hanumant in a statement.

In December, Waugh was fined half his match fee after questioning his run-out for 90 in the first innings of the second Test against South Africa at Melbourne.

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