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Warne fined again

By Kim Hagdorn
21 January 2013 12:55PM EST

TEST legend Shane Warne has escaped with only a fine for his latest spat with cricket authorities.

He was fined $5000 after a code of conduct hearing was held through teleconference and convened from Perth and Warne did not attend.

The greatest leg-spinner of all time was charged with a code of conduct breach when he relinquished captaincy of his Melbourne Stars with a one-match ban hanging over his head for slow over rates.

Hia actions were deemed outside the "spirit" of cricket.

Warne was quick to defend himself after Monday's hearing at Australian cricket headquarters in Melbourne.

He claimed he was unaware of any rule relating to relinquishing captaincy of a Big Bash franchise with slow over rate infringements hanging over his head.

Warne, who has completed his second season with the high profile Stars franchise, claimed he did not know of any rule that could impose an automatic one-match ban on a captain who was guilty of a second slow over rate at any stage of this summer's Big Bash series.  

Warne went into a semi-final against Perth Scorchers with a threat of suspension after he was cited for a slow over rate.

The increasingly controversial playing legend handed pre-match captaincy duties to all-rounder James Faulker for the Stars gut-wrenching semi-final loss to Perth at the WACA Ground.

But Warne still took charge of team tactical and operations for the thriling clash, with cricket authorities laying charges for his breach of conduct immediately after the Stars lost from the last ball of the match.

Warne has had a running battle with his own national authorities since his ugly on-field altercation with West Indies star Marlon Samuels in Melbourne early this month.

The Stars captain and virtually the public face of the summer's high-profile and exciting Big Bash League copped a one-game ban and $4500 fine for grabbing Samuels jumper in a spiteful confrontation at the MCG.

Warne, 43, failed to appear at his latest hearing in Melbourne when his charge of breaching code of behaviour regulations was heard at cricket headquarters.

He was facing an automatic one-match suspension for his second strike in slow over rates during Big Bash matches.

It appears his imminent final retirement from cricket in his home country could have contributed to any decision not to impose any playing ban.

Warne is believed to have told Stars players and management that he will not play in next summer's Big Bash tournament.

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