Kagiso Rabada suspended for the series

Lucky it's decided by the ICC then.

As a fan of AFL, I would have thought you might have enjoyed a few theatrics, Paul, especially given the antics of one Rhys 'Beastmode' Mathieson on the Lions roster ;) Not to mention all the guernsey-grabbing, shoving and general derogatory trash-talking that goes on pre-bounce. The NRL and the AFL are the biggest soap operas in town and yet, are the two most popular sporting codes in Australia. The Ashes has a continual stream of inane pre-series sledging as well these days yet that doesn't seem to stop the punters from showing up in droves. Attendance was actually up on the Durban test as well despite, or perhaps because of all the fanfare surrounding Rabada and the Warner-de Kock incident.

Two send offs would have been a point each, so Rabada would have not been suspended. Jeff Crowe could only give 3 points if he made the finding that the shoulder brush was both deliberate and inappropriate which he did.

The only one of those fast bowlers to come into contact with a batsman, apart from hitting them, was Lillee. And he made a right goose of himself with his half hearted kick at Miandad.

At a time when test cricket lacks colour and excitement the very concept of behaviour guidelines is unnecessary in my book. Sledging between sides adds colour and passion to a hard fought contest and guidelines and demerit points and regulations over player behaviour only highlights for me the blandness of professional modern sport and control over "the product." Was anybody injured? Look at the vision and you'll see very little other than a tap on the shoulder, a few excited words and a dirty return look from a batsman ... big deal! Sportsmen under pressure to succeed swear and carry on all the time in most sports and sometimes lose their tempers ... shock ... horror! Another point ... a fast blower's job is different from that of a batsman or a spin bowlers in my book - they must impose their will and show a degree of physical aggression. Under current regulations I'm sure Harold Larwood would've missed a few tests during the Bodyline series, as would Lillie and Thompson during the 1970s, Fred Trueman, John Snow, Malcolm Marshall, Curtley Ambrose etc. A great time to be a batsman I say .. big bats, small boundaries and bowlers on good behaviour bonds if they get too aggressive. Test cricket, if not dead, is currently well on its way to morbidity I fear. A great series ruined by over regulation, petty-minded officialdom. This isn't world championship tiddlywinks ... it's test cricket with little quarter asked for or given. I for one won't be watching the third test.

According to the regulations Warner could have only been categorised under Level 3. The offences in level 2 are specific , Level 3 is about threatening violence. Actually violence as in punching them is Level 4. The most amazing shoulder brush in history no matter how fluffed Steve super sensitive Smith the Sissy shirt sleeve was is not going to be considered violence.

Faf appears to be of the opinion that the administration of the game has gone soft and that's why Rabada has been suspended. As for Steve Smith, he seems quite content with everything that Australian players have said and done this series. Well, everything except getting their butts flogged in this recent test, perhaps. The umpires seem to be more focussed on the band playing in the grandstand than the on-field niggles.

Not your most objective comment, Chris. Rabada was already on the offside of the pitch after his follow-through. As was Smith, who appeared to have started walking towards the sheds until he decided to check with the non striker about reviewing the decision. So Rabada clearly didn't walk across the pitch. He may have intentionally walked close to Smith to celebrate the wicket in close proximity, or possibly, he headed towards the slips and gully fielder to celebrate the key wicket and the batsman happened to be nearby. Rabada has form for sending off players so he is easy to target with doing it again. He certainly screamed with Smith nearby, but not exactly in Smith's face as some reports claim. He did make slight contact with Smith's shoulder, although the reports of a "shoulder bump" or even "shoulder charge" are a touch overly dramatic. Either way, the shoulder brush, which was all it really was, didn't result in his suspension. The carry over demerit points and the Warner send off took care of that. Very silly for Rabada to put himself in a position to be suspended when he was already standing on the suspension tightrope. It would be the same for Warner should he fail to keep his nose squeaky clean for the next couple of years. As in the first test, the worst part is that a very good test match is again overshadowed by player behaviour.

Jeff Crowe is Kiwi who nearly played for Australia, I think he hardly qualifies as a Aussie hating Kiwi.

The wording of the law is as above not as you have stated. By quoting the exact wording of the law I am making a false argument? if you watched the replay of Rabada against the Sri Lankan now that was shoulder bump and also a bit of a shove and it was quite clear he was going after him. Now let me guess your going to say they were both identical.

I tend to agree that Du Plessis and Smith should crack down on the players onfield and that a few well placed words and warnings from the umpires during the match will quickly cool things down a bit.

That is obviously what De Kock did - goaded Warner to try and get a response that would see him suspended. If that is how the Saffers play ...

Test Cricket isn't dying and how many times do you fine a bloke until he gets the message?

Laws of Cricket Rule number 1 The Captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws. Why then are Du Plessis and Smith not also charged for their players behaviour or for failing to deal with it on the field? With technology the way it is, we no longer need the best umpires standing in these games, we need the strongest umpires doing these games.

Just wait till you see what the Kiwis and Aussies have planned for you in super rugby, felix.

well for me its fair play (within some limits) to goad someone into reaction so they play poorly in the match or even get themselves sent off in a match (where thats possible). but to try and get a suspension to take them out of the sport for a period isnt sporting. or perhaps its just beyond my level of planning. anyway thats me. quite possible the aussie team see it differently but thats where id have my bet on how they played it. doesnt really seem like rabada needs much goading anyway.

NRL refs enforce discipline. When was the last time you saw a real, genuine, don't come back this game send off? The refs are lucky to use the ten in bin.

Well said,Pedro.

Precisely.

Please Felix, Crowe was applying ICC standards. Jeff Crowe is an honourable man and on the contact with Smith, intentional or not, he has to go. No conspiracies from any of the officials. The precedent had been set after the fines and sanctions from the first Test; Jeff Crowe had met the teams and told them what he expected; the captains would have (should have) lain down the law before hostilities commenced; and Rabada by his own admission has to do something to rein his behaviour in Everyone should be wiser for this suspension. This young man will learn and grow from this experience.