England off-spinner Moeen Ali has been fined 25% of his match fee and handed one demerit point for using an unauthorised drying agent on his bowling hand in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

The ICC accepted Moeen, who is making his Test return after a near two-year absence, used the spray to merely dry his hands and was not attempting to alter the condition of the ball.

However, in using the spray, Moeen – who turned 36 on Sunday – had contravened a pre-series instruction telling players they could not put anything on their hands without the  approval of the umpires.

With England players being paid some £15,000 per Test, Moeen’s fine amounts to £3,750.

© Agence France-Presse