Former South African cricket captain Graeme Smith has called David Warner a fool while adding Nathan Lyon may regret his unnecessary celebration following AB de Villiers’ run out in the Kingsmead Test.
The first Test in Durban provided a major talking point on day four when star batsman de Villiers was run out by Warner and Lyon without scoring.
South Africa’s vice-captain then unleashed a spray on centurion Aiden Markram, who was involved in the run out, while Lyon dropped the ball in the direction of de Villiers who was sprawled on the turf in trying to make his ground.
“The Aussies were pretty fired up at that time pushing for a victory,” Smith told cricket.com.au in Durban, where Australia need just one wicket on day five for victory.
“But he (Lyon) is an experienced cricketer.
“I think he’ll probably say it was unnecessary himself.
“We’ve got used to Davey over the years. I think the less interest you take in him the better.
“He can be a bit of a fool at times. It best just to let him be.”
Smith warned the teams not to cross the line with sledging.
“I think everyone that’s played the game has hard moments and that’s what makes the hundred from Markram so special,” Smith said.
“He’s had to work, he’s showed great composure, the Aussies were all over him after that run out.
“Everyone wants to be competitive, people love watching that.
“I think there’s always a line that you’ve got to be careful you don’t cross.”
Australia require just one wicket to take a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series after setting South Africa 417 for victory.
The Proteas are 9-293 with Quinton de Kock (81) and Morne Morkel (0) at the crease.
Ex force fan
Guest
Yes they are crap at rugby as the drawn twice against Australia last year.... In 7s they are the current World champions... Must be crap....
Ex force fan
Guest
The sledging dramas of the past decade had one common denominator, it always involve an Australian team. Sledging is poor sportmanship and not part of the game. Aussies lift your game!
What exactly did De Kock say? What exactly did Warner say? What exactly was said on the pitch? You choose to believe Warner’s wife was abused, yet you know nothing concrete.
Don Freo
Guest
Just so typical that you would support the abuse of Warner's wife. Why would you do that?
Jon boy
Guest
Davee is pretty good at giving it, it is way time to grow up.
Jon boy
Guest
Should put him in the ring with Ben Stokes.
Jon boy
Guest
Warner is five foot tall and he just needs to accept he is not going to get any bigger,maybe they should not have restrained him and he might have got what's been coming for a long time.
Don Freo
Guest
Did you cross your fingers as you typed that?
Bobbo7
Guest
And look at the pitches they both play on. Some SA pitches rattle teams for under 150 - Warner plays on the flattest decks in Australian history where 500 plus is almost the norm.
Nope
Guest
Sanctimonious prats and rubbish cricketers. This group at least. Even England put up more resistance then these daisies. Tough times for the Saffers - crap at rugby, crap at cricket, crap at foootball.
OJP
Guest
'Reports coming out now suggesting De Koch made disparaging remarks about David warner’s missus which triggered the confrontation at tea time yesterday.' is that not allowed these days or just as it pertains to the Warners? I thought Marsh to Botham 'Hows your wife and my kids ?' was revered as some high quality sledging ? So confusing...!
OJP
Guest
yep, clearly water off a ducks back... D Warner not taking it seriously at all.... just another friendly walk up the race to the sheds !
Don Freo
Guest
Yet, right now, they are 1-0 down in a 4 test series. Time to talk less, cry less and try harder.
Just so you have the facts. In the last 50 years South Africa have a superior w/l ratio in test cricket to every other test playing nation. SA 1.968 wins for every loss AUS 1.816 wins for every loss The rest aren’t even close. So I reckon these old colonial boers win enough, won’t you say ?
ols
Roar Pro
I think you will find that it's Graeme Smith and South Africa that seem to take this stuff so seriously. Australians don't give a flying but get sick and tired of always having the finger pointed at them. Bit like your Saffa Rugby referees ;)
Don Freo
Guest
Happily, no. Time for Saffas to tell their sooky boys to try winning games. What grown man demonstrates his cricketing prowess by commenting on his opponent's wife? Is there any morality left in the old colonial Boers?
Perhaps if you don’t take this so seriously you would not react in the manner you have. It is a sport, opposing teams sledge each other, get over it.
Sadly you cry along with them, eh?
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Yep. Thank you. Takes two to tango. Funny how people never seem to remember that. I'm just happy to take the "bad guy" tag in stride now, because it doesn't matter what happens, it'll always just come back to what we did (good ol' "Ugly Aussie" syndrome).
Don Freo
Guest
South Africans have been grubs on field for a long time. Graeme Smith had a cry every Test from his debut. I'm hoping South Africa get up to speed with their sportsmanship. At the moment, they are locked in the last century.