Root handed demerit point and warning for dissent

Root was found to be in breach of the ICC Code of Conduct after being deemed to have shown dissent at a decision by umpire Marais Erasmus

Joe Root has been given a reprimand and one demerit point after an incident on the second day of their Test against Sri Lanka at Pallekele.

Root was found to be in breach of the ICC Code of Conduct after being deemed to have shown dissent at a decision by umpire Marais Erasmus. He shook his head and kicked the turf in the 76th over after Dilruwan Perera had been given not out off the bowling of Moeen Ali.

Having been accused of dissent by both the on-field umpires Erasmus and Sundaram Ravi, and off-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Ranmore Martinez, the England captain pled not guilty at a hearing after the close of play.

The match referee Andy Pycroft upheld the charge, and gave Root an official reprimand - the minimum penalty for a Level 1 breach.

^{Andy Pycroft found Joe Root guilty of dissent}

Root also received the first demerit point of his career, and should he receive three or more from this point within the next two years, he will accrue suspension points. Receiving two suspension points results in a player receiving match bans.

He is the second England player to receive a demerit point and reprimand during this series after James Anderson was given the same punishment for dissent during the second day's play in the first Test at Galle.

In that incident, Anderson complained at the umpire's decision and threw the ball into the after receiving a warning from Chris Gaffeney for running on the wicket.