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Anderson in the clear after ICC rule out appeal

James Anderson (right) was found not guilty of a Level Three misconduct charge © Associated Press

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The ICC has decided not to appeal against the not guilty verdict handed to James Anderson in the Trent Bridge pushing case.

The governing body confirmed on Tuesday it had received a request from the BCCI to appeal the verdict after the bowler was cleared of a Level 3 misconduct charge involving India's Ravindra Jadeja but has decided no further action is necessary.

"This outcome is the result of two exhaustive and thorough disciplinary processes and, after considering the written decision, the ICC is satisfied with the manner in which the decisions have been reached," chief executive Dave Richardson said.

"The disciplinary procedures were robust and transparent and all parties had ample opportunity to ask questions, test the evidence and make submissions. We have determined that there is no merit in an appeal and that it would not be in the best interest of the sport to take such action."

Anderson could have been hit with a stern punishment if the ECB had got involved. ESPN recently learned that after India officially levelled the charge against Anderson, the governing body in England offered to instigate internal disciplinary procedures against Anderson in return for India withdrawing the charge.

However, talks broke down after the ECB refused to guarantee a minimum sanction of a two-Test suspension for the fast bowler.

Richardson said: "It was a complicated and sensitive matter relating to charges brought against two players at different levels of the ICC Code of Conduct. There appears to have been vastly conflicting evidence on both sides, with a total of 13 witnesses who gave testimony.

"After carefully considering the decision by Gordon Lewis, whose vast experience was invaluable to the process over recent weeks, we believe that no further purpose would be served by prolonging the process through further appeal proceedings."

England batsman Ian Bell believes the incident, which occurred during the first Test in Nottingham, has been blown out of proportion.

"Apart from one incident there's been nothing on the field at all, less than in other series I've played," Bell said.

"We're desperate to get everyone talking about the cricket and a good series, rather than one incident that maybe got blown out of proportion."

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