Ponting and Katich cop fines

NOTTINGHAM, England, Monday (Reuters) Australia captain Ricky Ponting was fined 75 percent of his match fee on Sunday for bringing the game into disrepute following his second-innings dismissal during the fourth Ashes test. His team mate Simon Katich was also fined half his fee for showing serious dissent. Australia's players earn around 12,500 Australian dollars per game.

Ponting, who was run out by a specialist substitute fielder on Saturday, approached umpire Aleem Dar, fired angry words at England's fielders and shouted up at the home side's balcony. Ponting's anger stemmed from his belief that England have regularly brought on substitutes to give their bowlers a break from play when they should only be used in case of injury.

The Australia captain, however, probably chose the wrong time to make his protest. Gary Pratt, who ran him out, was on the field for England fast bowler Simon Jones, who missed most of Australia's second innings with an injured right ankle.

England won the match by three wickets to go 2-1 up in the five-match series.

Katich was censured for showing dissent to umpire Dar over his dismissal by fast bowler Steve Harmison on Sunday.

Katich, Australia's last specialist batsman, was given out lbw for 59 after a fine back-to-the-wall innings. Television replays suggested the ball had pitched outside leg stump and would have cleared the stumps.