Bailey fined for slow over rate

The Hobart Hurricanes have become the fifth team to be fined for a slow over rate in the current KFC BBL season.

The Hurricanes were five minutes and 25 seconds behind their allotted time in the final-ball thriller against the Brisbane Heaton Wednesday night.

The match had been the subject of a controversial obstructing the field dismissal during the Brisbane innings, with batsman Alex Ross ruled to have impeded the fielding side by intentionally changing direction during the 17th over.

Bowling sides are given allowances for third umpire involvement, among other things, with George Bailey's team still found to be one over short of finishing on time.

In accordance with the BBL Playing Conditions, each member of the playing XI was fine $1,000, an amount that would be halved for each player if accepted without appeal, while Bailey, as the Hurricanes captain, receives one strike against his name.

Two strikes for a captain trigger an immediate one-match ban.

Hobart join the Perth Scorchers, Melbourne Stars, Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers in copping fines for maintaining a slow over rate in BBL|07. After the Hobart fine was announced, CA later revealed Perth had incurred a second over-rate penalty and captain Adam Voges was suspended for the Scorchers meeting with the Adelaide Strikers in Alice Springs.

Only the Strikers, Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane Heat – who had skipper Brendon McCullum suspended for a game last season – have avoided falling foul of the time regulations.

Meanwhile, the fallout from the Big Bash's first obstruction dismissal continues, with Queensland Cricket coming out in support of Alex Ross over the incident.

"Given the highly subjective nature of the rule, I think it is crucial that the public understands that Alex and for that matter, all players and officials involved in the game, are people of integrity," QC CEO Max Walters said in a statement.

QC released a statement after Cricket Australia announced a review of the decision found it was "justified" after umpires had "assessed the intent of the batsman".

Heat batsman Alex Ross had earlier taken to Twitter to declare: "I can unequivocally say I was trying to run away from the line of the ball to avoid being hit, as I felt I was going to make my ground."

The latest BBL over rate fines come after two WBBL teams – the Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes – were also found to be in breach of over rate regulations in recent days.

The Stars WBBL team was penalised for their match against the Adelaide Strikers on January 9, while the Hurricanes WBBL team was also short against the Heat in a match at Blundstone Arena on January 8.

Each member of the WBBL playing XIs was fined $250 – again, halved if the club accepts the penalty without appeal – while captains Kristen Beams (Stars) and Corinne Hall (Hurricanes) received one strike each.