James Anderson is set to learn tomorrow the date for the full hearing into the allegation that he "abused and pushed" India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja during the Trent Bridge Test.
It emerged last week, on the eve of the second match of the Investec series at Lord's, that India had instigated a Level 3 charge against England's pace bowler under the International Cricket Council's code of conduct.
The England and Wales Cricket Board described its understanding of the circumstances surrounding the allegation — an altercation in the pavilion stairwell as the players made their way off for lunch on day two in Nottingham — as "minor".
A day later, England team manager Phil Neale sent a Level 2 counter-allegation against Jadeja to ICC offices in Dubai.
Both players therefore face a tele-conference preliminary hearing with the ICC's appointed judicial commission Gordon Lewis tomorrow — the first practicable date — immediately following the completion of the second Test.
The primary task for Lewis, Australia’s representative on the ICC’s code of conduct commission, will be to “address preliminary issues” in the case before setting a date for a full hearing.
It is highly unlikely there will be any other decisive outcome at the preliminary hearing, although an amendment to the level of charge is possible for either player.
For Anderson, for example, a reduction from Level 3 to 2 would drastically reduce the probability of any resulting suspension during the remainder of this summer’s five-match series.
Guilt proven at Level 3 carries the provision of a ban of up to four Tests, while at Level 2 a fine is by far the likelier outcome.
There is little prospect of a full hearing being able to take place before the third Test, which begins in Southampton next weekend.
But after the conclusion of that match, by July 31 at the latest, there is a window for the disciplinary process to be completed before the fourth Test on Anderson’s home ground at Emirates Old Trafford — scheduled to start a week later on August 7th.
