Australia captain Steve Smith has been handed a one-match suspension and fined 100 per cent of his match fee following his admission yesterday that he was party to a decision to attempt to change the condition of the ball in order to gain an unfair advantage during the third day’s play in the Cape Town Test against South Africa.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson laid the charge against Smith under to Article 2.2.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel which prohibits to ‘all types of conduct of a serious nature that is contrary to the spirit of the game’.

Smith accepted the charge and the proposed sanction of two suspension points which equates to a ban for the next Test match and which will see four demerit points added to his record.

“The decision made by the leadership group of the Australian team to act in this way is clearly contrary to the spirit of the game, risks causing significant damage to the integrity of the match, the players and the sport itself and is therefore ‘serious’ in nature. As captain, Steve Smith must take full responsibility for the actions of his players and it is appropriate that he be suspended,” Richardson said.

“The game needs to have a hard look at itself. In recent weeks we have seen incidents of ugly sledging, send-offs, dissent against umpires’ decisions, a walk-off, ball tampering and some ordinary off-field behaviour.

“The ICC needs to do more to prevent poor behavior and better police the spirit of the game, defining more clearly what is expected of players and enforcing the regulations in a consistent fashion. In addition and most importantly Member countries need to show more accountability for their teams’ conduct. Winning is important but not at the expense of the spirit of the game which is intrinsic and precious to the sport of cricket. We have to raise the bar across all areas.”

Cameron Bancroft has been fined 75 per cent of his match fee and handed three demerit points for breaching Level 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third day’s play on Saturday.

Bancroft admitted that he breached Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “changing the condition of the ball in breach of clause 41.3.” and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, and as such there was no need for a formal hearing.

The incident that led to the charges being laid took place during South Africa’s innings on Saturday afternoon when Bancroft was seen on television holding a foreign object while rubbing the ball, before hiding the object in his pocket, then inside his trousers.

As soon as the incident was shown on the giant screen, the player was questioned in the presence of his captain Steve Smith by the two on-field umpires, Richard Illingworth and Nigel Llong, who, along with third umpire Ian Gould and fourth umpire Allahudien Palekar, later charged Bancroft.

The umpires inspected the ball at that time and elected not to replace the ball and award a 5-run penalty as they could not see any marks on the ball that suggested that its condition had been changed as a direct result of Bancroft’s actions. The umpires though agreed that Bancroft’s actions were likely to alter the condition of the ball and he was therefore charged under Article 2.2.9.

Pycroft said: “To carry a foreign object on to the field of play with the intention of changing the condition of the ball to gain an unfair advantage over your opponent is against not only the Laws, but the Spirit of the game as well.

“That said, I acknowledge that Cameron has accepted responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty to the charge and apologising publicly. As a young player starting out in international cricket, I hope the lessons learned from this episode will strongly influence the way he plays the game during the rest of his career.”

MORE TO COME

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, AB de Villiers.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test South Africa won by six wickets. Scorecard

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage

As he ran through Australia on the fourth morning in Port Elizabeth, there was bad news for Kagiso Rabada filtering through from the ICC, with the Proteas paceman reported for his send-off of Australia vice-captain David Warner yesterday.

As he waits to find out whether he will be suspended for the remainder of the Test series for his making physical contact with Steve Smith on Friday, Rabada was hit with a Level 1 offence by the International Cricket Council today after screaming in the face of Warner having captured the opener’s wicket.

A Level 1 offence carries with it a maximum of 50 per cent match fee fine and two demerit points.

If he is cleared for the Smith incident by match referee Jeff Crowe, Rabada would not face suspension if given the maximum two demerit point penalty.

Rabada has been charged four times by the ICC, two of which have been for send-offs, an area of his game teammate AB de Villiers has urged the young charge to be smarter about.

“He’s got to be smarter and he knows that,” said de Villiers. “I don’t know what is going to happen to him after this Test but if he is around for the next Test match I think he would have learned from his mistakes.

“There was a lot of emotion from that last Test match going into this one and once again as a fast bowler you want to prove things to people and you want to show everyone you belong on this stage.”

De Villiers added: “I think it’s up to some of our senior guys to just help him.

“It’s important to some of the players to get around him before he’s close(enough) to a batter to tell him ‘you know what? I just got you out’.

“That’s what it basically comes down to, except with more emotion.

“He wants to tell him ‘I just won that battle’. I would’ve been the same.”

A worst-case scenario for Rabada following his charges from this Test would leave the 22-year-old with 11 demerit points, including seven that would stay on his record for 23 months.

Rabada’s history of ICC charges

Feb 2017: Inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella. Three demerit points and fined 50 per cent of match fee.

July 2017: Used inappropriate language after dismissing England allrounder Ben Stokes. One demerit point and fined 15 per cent of match fee. Suspended one Test.

Feb 2018: Using language which could provoke an aggressive reaction from another player in send-off of India batsman Shikhar Dhawan. One demerit point and fined 15 per cent of match fee.

Mar 2018: Level-two charge for making physical contact with Steve Smith during a spirited send-off. Expected to have argued it was not “deliberate” at a hearing. Later in same Test, screamed in David Warner’s face after dismissing the opener on day three. Possibly will be charged.

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13. Live coverage

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage

Cape Town – Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will face a disciplinary hearing
on Saturday that could result in a ban from the third Test against
Australia.

LIVE: Proteas v Australia, Day 2

Cricket South Africa said Rabada, who devastated the Australian
batting order on the first day of the second Test on Friday, has been
charged with a level two offence following an incident with Australian
captain Steve Smith.

Level two offences are for conduct of a
serious nature. In Rabada’s case the alleged offence is that of making
inappropriate or deliberate contact with another player.

Rabada
shouted in celebration and approached Smith aggressively after winning a
leg before wicket decision against him and the shoulders of the players
made contact.

It is the second incident of a bad-tempered series
after Australia’s vice-captain David Warner was fined 75 percent of his
match fee for an altercation in a stairwell with the home side’s
wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

The charge against Rabada was
brought by the on-field umpires, Kumar Dharmasena and Chris Gaffaney.
The hearing will be conducted by International Cricket Council match
referee Jeff Crowe.

A Cricket South Africa spokesperson said Rabada would defend the charge and argue that the contact with Smith was accidental.

If
found guilty Rabada could be fined between 50 and 100 percent of his
match fee and could be penalised three or four demerit points.

Because
he already has five demerit points, which led to him being suspended for
a Test match against England last year, Rabada could be liable to serve
another suspension, which could rule him out of the two remaining Tests
in the series.

See the incident below:

An aggressive send off to steven smith by kagiso rabada. #SAvAUS #SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/F9gHKVGTOQ

— Alauddin Khilji (@AlauddinKhilj10) March 9, 2018

Will Proteas star Kagiso Rabada find himself in trouble for this incident on day one? #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/fqvFIx8ogZ

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 9, 2018

Kagiso Rabada has been reported with a Level 2 code of conduct breach by the standing umpires after his brush with Steve Smith on day one and now faces being suspended for the rest of the series.

But Rabada is appealing the charge and will have a hearing with match referee Jeff Crowe tonight in Port Elizabeth to contest the intention of his actions.

The 22-year-old will argue he did not intentionally mean to come in contact with Smith, hoping for a downgraded charge that would see him escape suspension.

After taking the wicket of Smith lbw for 25 after lunch, Rabada brushed shoulders with the batsman as he moved to celebrate with his jubilant teammates who were stationed behind the wicket.

The contact drew an immediate response from Smith, who wheeled around to look at Rabada before consulting with non-striker Shaun Marsh about reviewing his dismissal.

While the moment might seem minor on the surface, Rabada has five demerit points on his disciplinary record and the brush with Smith could take him to eight and a two-Test suspension.

A Level 2 breach of the ICC code of conduct brings with it a maximum of a 100 per cent match fee fine and between 3-4 demerit points, which if imposed would men Rabada would be ruled out of the remainder of the Test series.

The brush with Smith was after the first of a five-wicket burst from the right-armer, who captured 5-13 in 18 balls to rip the heart out of the Australia middle order either side of tea at St George’s Park.

Should Rabada, who has the best strike-rate (39.7) of any bowler with at least 100 wickets in the past 122 years, be rubbed out, new-ball partner Vernon Philander says he would leave a “massive hole” in the Proteas XI.

“He’s a big part of this bowling line-up,” Philander said. “Let’s hope that’s not the case and we’ll have a four-pronged attack come Cape Town.”

Former Proteas captain Graeme Smith says Rabada’s actions were “silly” given the potential threat of suspension that hangs over his head.

“It’s a difficult one,” Smith told cricket.com.au in Port Elizabeth. “Obviously, we know any kind of physical contact is not on in the game.

“It looked like they were walking in the same direction.

“From a series perspective, you hope he doesn’t get a ban, you want to see the best players playing against the best players but it is silly.”

Prior to the series, Steve Smith flagged the Aussies would potentially look to target Rabada given his precarious disciplinary record.

“It could perhaps be a plan to try and get him fired up,” he told cricket.com.au last month in Johannesburg.

“You never know what some guys do when they’re fired up.

“He’s obviously a quality bowler and a big player for them.

“You don’t want to see guys getting suspended or anything like that, you want to come up against the best, but you never know.”

Rabada’s disciplinary history

Feb, 2017: Inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella. Three demerit points and fined 50 per cent of match fee.

July, 2017: Used inappropriate language after dismissing England allrounder Ben Stokes. One demerit point and fined 15 per cent of match fee.Suspended one Test. 

Feb, 2018: Using language which could provoke an aggressive reaction from another player in send-off of India batsman Shikhar Dhawan. One demerit point and fined 15 per cent of match fee.

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13. Live coverage

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage

WARNER-DE KOCK SPAT

Warner is now one demerit point away from a ban. © Getty

David Warner has been hit with three demerit points and fined 75 per cent of his match fee after deciding to accept the ICC’s level two charges that came from his altercation with Quinton de Kock during the first Test in Durban, but South Africa have confirmed that their player will contest his charge.

CCTV footage from a stairwell leading up to the dressing rooms at Kingsmead showed Warner continuing to verbally abuse de Kock as South Africa and Australia broke for tea on the fourth day of the first Test, which Australia went on to win by 118 runs.

Australia maintain that Warner was provoked by personal comments that de Kock made about his wife, but the Australia batsman has accepted the charges brought against him by match referee Jeff Crowe and is now one demerit point away from a ban. Level 2 breaches carry a fine of 50 to 100 per cent of the match fee and/or up to two suspension points, equating to three or four demerit points.

Because Warner admitted the offence, there was no need for a hearing and his punishment was confirmed on Wednesday (March 7) morning. He joins South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada among the players in the series with demerit points against their name who could be banned in the event of a further infraction.

De Kock, meanwhile, has decided to contest his level one charge after South Africa sought clarity over the accusations laid against him. He will now undergo a hearing on Wednesday evening in Port Elizabeth, where the teams are preparing for Friday’s second Test.

The heaviest penalty that de Kock could receive for a level one offence is a fine, but South Africa feel that even this would be unfair given that video footage appears to be the only evidence used by the ICC.

Warner’s level two charge, which related to “bringing the game into disrepute”, is thought to have been handed down purely on the basis of the CCTV footage, with umpires Kumar Dharmasena and S Ravi not hearing any on-field exchange between the players.

Given that de Kock did not react to Warner at all in the footage, South Africa feel he has no case to answer.

“We are appealing level one because we think Quinny didn’t do anything,” coach Ottis Gibson said on Wednesday. “Quinny wasn’t aggressive. You saw some footage and the footage showed Quinny walking up the stairs and somebody else being restrained and then Quinny gets a level one. That doesn’t seem fair.”

A verdict on the wicketkeeper-batsman will be delivered immediately after his hearing, which will take place at the team hotel.

© Cricbuzz

RELATED STORIES

Australia vice-captain David Warner faces possible suspension from the second Test in Port Elizabeth after he was charged for his involvement in a stairwell altercation with Proteas gloveman Quinton de Kock at tea on day four of the first Test in Durban.

Warner was judged to have breached Level 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for bringing the game into disrepute, while de Kock was charged with a Level 1 offence for the same breach.

A Level 2 charge brings with it 3-4 demerit points and up to 100 per cent fine of a player’s match fee.

If a player accrues four demerit points in the space of 24 four months they are suspended for one Test match or two limited-overs internationals, whichever comes first. 

Both Australia and South Africa have until tomorrow to respond to the charges handed out by match referee Jeff Crowe.

CCTV footage emerged on Sunday night showing Warner and de Kock trading verbal barbs in the stairwell outside the players’ dressing rooms as both teams made their way from the field for the tea break.

Warner had to be physically restrained by his teammates after it was alleged de Kock made derogatory comments about the Australian’s wife.

But in the wake of the incident, the Proteas camp declared both sides got personal on the field, a claim Australia captain Steve Smith denied after his side wrapped up a 118-run win at Kingsmead yesterday.

“We were certainly very chirpy out on the field as well,” Smith told reporters on Monday. 

“As far as I’m aware we didn’t get personal towards Quinton.

“But look – what he said got a little bit personal towards Davey – and as we saw it certainly provoked an emotional response.

“That’s from my opinion – and what I’ve heard from the guys as well.

“I’m not 100 per cent sure but as far as I’m aware I don’t think we got personal.”

While Warner faces a possible suspension, de Kock will be free to play in the second Test. A Level 1 charge brings with it 1-2 demerit points and a fine of up to 50 per cent.

Four players in the series, excluding Warner and de Kock, have demerit points on their records. 

Proteas seamer Kagiso Rabada has five demerit points on his record, Du Plessis has three points, while Australia’s Tim Paine and Nathan Lyon have one point each.

If Rabada, who was suspened for one Test against England last winter, is handed another three points before February next year he will suspended for up to two Tests or four ODIs/T20Is. 

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13. Live coverage

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage