Kagiso Rabada admits he has let himself and teammates down after being slapped with a two-Test ban that will force him to miss the rest of the series against Australia unless South Africa successfully appeal.
Rabada bowled the Proteas to a series-levelling victory in Port Elizabeth, earning man-of-the-match honours after snaring figures of 11-150 in the second Test.
Rabada’s feats earned him top spot on the International Cricket Council’s Test bowling rankings that were released on Tuesday.
But the fired-up quick has been given four demerit points and fined 65 per cent of his match fee from the game at St George’s Park.
Rabada earned three points for making physical contact with Steve Smith on day one, while he copped one point for screaming in the face of David Warner during a send-off on day three.
Match referee Jeff Crowe conducted a hearing on the first send-off, ruling he could “not see any evidence to support the argument that the contact was accidental”.
The Proteas are seeking legal advice and have 48 hours to lodge a formal appeal. Rabada will remain suspended if he appeals, although South Africa could attempt to convince the judicial commissioner that he should be allowed to play.
Rabada, who accepted his level-one charge for giving Warner a spray, has now been charged by the International Cricket Council five times in 13 months.
The 22-year-old, having started the current series with five points on his record, accepts he must learn how to control his emotions.
“It’s going to have to stop. I can’t keep doing this because I’m letting the team down and I’m also letting myself down,” he told reporters after starring in the six-wicket win.
“It’s bittersweet. I would’ve loved to have been playing the next game.
“I have to see it as a big learning curve and not repeat the same mistake, because I’ve ‘repeated’ the same mistake in the eyes of the umpires. I’m not happy about it.
“I don’t know what I’m thinking actually. I just let it out.
“I won’t change the way I express myself, but I’ll just get far away from the batter.”
Skipper Faf du Plessis has also seemingly accepted the prospect of losing his most potent weapon, who in 28 Tests already boasts more 10-wicket Test match hauls than any South African apart from Dale Steyn (five) and Makhaya Ntini (four).
“Our strike rate is zero per cent at the moment with trying to challenge these cases, it will probably stay at zero,” du Plessis said, referencing Quinton de Kock’s hearing last week and his own ball-tampering charge that resulted from ‘mint-gate’.
Rabada’s absence is a massive setback for the Proteas ahead of next week’s clash in Cape Town.
Morne Morkel, who has announced this series will be his international swansong, is likely to be recalled.
Steyn has recovered from a heel injury and started bowling in the nets, but he is short of match fitness.
“From my understanding he would have needed to play a game this week, which he didn’t,” du Plessis said of Steyn.
“I will be praying extra hard that he will be ready … (but) I would assume probably the fourth Test.”
David
Guest
Whilst I agree that Rabada has been punished correctly under the current system, I can't help but think that the system is wrong. I raised the issue last week of a sin bin type approach to these misdemeanors. In my view, an hour or so on the sidelines whilst your team is fielding without you is a more effective deterrent than a point for shouting in someone's face. This type of penalty would not strip a series of the best bowler as the current system has. Also, a player like Rabada needs to be immediately punished for his actions, this delayed punishment has less effect on curbing his behavior because everyone around him tells him he is being treated unfairly and he's done nothing wrong. Even reading these pages (biased with Australian commenters) we see people sticking up for Rabada and saying he shouldn't be penalized. So he is getting mixed messages and the system is not working.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Rabada used to chase the batsman to the side to give them send offs including the one he gave a shoulder bump. He did change his behaviour ,and no longer went after the batsman. However the Australians worked out he went straight down the wicket so they just made sure they stood there and pretended that it was a send off and even played up the shoulder brush. Now he is going to be chased by the batsman whether they can spin a narrative as succesfully around that without being made to look like fools remains to be seen. This reminds me of the video of the football player chasing another player and lowering his head onto the other players arms. Expect to see a similiar thing with batsman running after Rabada trying to shoulder him.
vrx
Guest
People are lazily claiming Test Cricket is dying, but to see Rabada getting so worked up over a Test series is great to see. I fully support his punishments (5 charges in 13 months - no more need to be said). If Australia denies South Africa a first home series win, I expect Rabada will carry extreme motivation to set it right around with him for the rest of his career. Together with Ngidi and Maharaj, it will be one hell of a competitive SA Test team, and the beneficiaries of this are all Test Cricket lovers.
It is what it is, we don’t have to like it though. I don’t know whether you want to call it political correctness, human rights, or just that sport is becoming soft. 10 years ago we saw send offs that was found entertaining, those same send offs are now demerit points. But lets not call Rabada a tool, question his IQ or anything like that. He is a competitive sportsman that unfortunately wasn’t “held back” by his team mates in the stairwell.
Rob
Guest
Rabada had to go. It's something that should have happened when he was younger because he regards it as normal acceptable behavior after taking a wicket now. In reality Warner could have copped a similar penalty because his verbal abuse of opponents has been evident far to often also.
jameswm
Guest
How could any opponent not try to rile him? SA are trying the same with Warner.
JamesH
Roar Guru
#hardtotell
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Thanks Chris for clarifying it for me. Maybe the ICC should print Rabada's points on his opponents helmets to help him remember not to incur any more?
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
The send-off to Warner brings him closer to the next ban. He was on 5 points, got 3 for the Steve Smith shoulder bump, taking him to 8, which earns the 2 match suspension, then one more for the Warner send-off took him to 9 points, meaning he's just 3 points away from the next suspension (which I believe would be 4 matches, though I'm not certain on that).
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Are they exactly the same? I thought the send off to Warner contributed to the ban? Excuse my language, I'm lumping over the top sending off with general sledging.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
You reckon? Glenny was subtle as a brick. He was very chatty. He'd give the batsman the benefit of his wisdom every other ball. To be fair I don't remember him going the send off Rabada style.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
#sendphotos (if female)
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Rubbish He has been playing cricket at various levels for some years now and is no longer a "kid". He has been poorly advised and his antics should have been curbed well before he reached the international stage.
Marshall
Guest
Haha I remember the great footage of a pissed off Pigeon stomping down to fine leg after conceding a 4 knicked through slips and slamming that baggy green on his head, pulling the peak down so hard it was clinging on for dear life - hands on hips with the double teapot.
jameswm
Guest
The rules are the same. Rabada wasn't fined for sledging.
jameswm
Guest
Eggzactly.
jameswm
Guest
Aussies do this and get criticised. SAffas do it and everyone cries poor. It's not a difficult concept. Celebrate when you get a wicket, but no send-offs. Cricket has been like that for a while you know.
Jake
Guest
#imprettyhot
Granter
Guest
McGrath sledged himself mostly, and even got done for swearing at himself after a bad over (must have leaked more than 2 runs). He never screamed in the face of batsmen, he simply had a smile that suggested he knew the wicket was coming soon.
Council
Guest
#hewasbeingfacetious