Australia captain Ricky Ponting will be available for the fifth Ashes Test after the International Cricket Council opted to fine rather than ban him for his show of dissent on day two at Melbourne.
Ponting was involved in a lengthy confrontation with umpire Aleem Dar after an appeal for caught behind against Kevin Pietersen was rejected, first by Dar and then by the TV umpire following a referral.
The available technology suggested the decision was correct but Ponting jabbed his finger in Dar's direction in a heated discussion before moving on to continue the debate with square-leg umpire Tony Hill.
The ICC could have banned Ponting from the Sydney Test had they found him guilty of a Level Two breach of their code, but instead docked him 40% of his match fee after finding him guilty of a Level One charge of dissent.
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