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Only the captains Faf du Plessis and Steve Smith can stop the long-awaited Test series between South Africa and Australia from degenerating into all-out war.
Overnight, fiery South African paceman Kagiso Rabada was suspended for two Tests, that takes away the best bowler from the series, which must affect the overall interest.
And if the Australians eventually win the series, it will be a very hollow victory.
Only du Plessis and Smith can stop the carnage because sledging will always be part of the game. There’s no way administrators can ever turn 22 Test cricketers into choir boys.
Rabada has been found guilty of bumping Steve Smith’s shoulder on his exit in Port Elizabeth, after screaming “yes, yes, yes” in Smith’s face.
Match referee Jeff Crowe took two days before fining Rabada up to 65 per cent of his match fee that took the 22-year-old to eight demerit points under the ICC Code of Conduct edict.
That’s an automatic two-Test holiday after Rabada’s long history of causing trouble in such a short career.
But it’s a damn shame Test cricket has sunk to such low depths.
Crowe has been busy.
David Warner was fined 75 per cent of his match fee for his outburst against Quinton de Kock who was fined 15 per cent for his retaliation, and Nathan Lyon copped 15 per cent for dropping the ball on a prone AB de Villiers after running him out.
(Independent Media screenshot)
You’d reckon that was more than enough message from Crowe for the rest to belt up, but Mitchell Marsh couldn’t help himself.
When Rabada was dismissed early on the fourth day, Marsh sent him on his way with “f*** off c***”.
That cost Marsh 20 per cent of his match fee, and he was damn lucky he didn’t cop a whole heap more for his stupidity.
So where do we go from here?
Du Plessis can take a major share of the blame for Rabada’s situation.
Had he tempered Rabada’s explosive nature, there’s little doubt South Africa was in the box seat to win the series.
But it begs the question, would Rabada be as devastating a bowler if he had to harness his nature?
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One thing for sure, now he’s gone, two of the world’s best batsmen in Smith and Warner should profit.
But does it mean the same if Smith and Warner fire without Rabada to torment them?
It certainly doesn’t, and Test cricket is the loser.
Especially this series.