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Starc cops penalty from ICC

Australian paceman Mitch Starc fined 50 per cent of his match fee by International Cricket Council

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council only hours after Australia's 208-run first Test win over New Zealand in Brisbane.

Recap & highlights: Australia draw first blood

Starc was fined for breaching Level 2 of ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel after he collected a straight drive from Mark Craig in his follow-through and threw the ball back in the direction of the stumps.

However, the wild throw missed the stumps and went close to Craig before the ball sped off to the boundary for four overthrows.

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Captain to quick on day five // Getty Images

Starc was found in breach of Article 2.2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct by match referee Roshan Mahanama, which covers the offence for 'throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match'.

Starc admitted the offence and accepted the sanction, which carries a minimum penalty of a fine between 50-100 per cent and up to two suspension points.

After the match, captain Steve Smith said he will have a talk with his fast bowler about his actions.

"I thought it was pretty disappointing," Smith said post-match.

"He's done it a few times and I'm going to have a word to him when I get back down in the sheds.

"I don't think it was necessary at the time and hopefully he can improve and get better from that." 

It’s the second time in two months a Starc return from his own bowling has been at the centre of a controversy, after the Ben Stokes obstructing the field incident in at Lord’s in September.  

WATCH: Stokes out obstructing the field

On that occasion, Starc was well within his rights to attempt the run-out, however Smith said there was no such excuse this time around. 

"I don't think he needs to apologise, I just don't think he needs to do it in the future," the captain said when asked if he’d be asking his paceman to seek out Craig or Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum post-match. 

"There wasn't an opportunity for a run-out there and I think it was just a bit of frustration and he needs to let it out in other ways."

WATCH: Damien Fleming and Dean Jones review the first Test on Stumps

But New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said he didn't feel there were any sinister motives in Starc's actions. 

"I thought the game was played in really good spirits," McCullum said after play.  

"The way I looked at it, I hope that he was trying to aim at the stumps.  

"And if that’s the case and it just slipped then so be it, we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.  

"I’m sure we’ll find out once we have a beer in the changeroom anyway."