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"Pity he didn't dive to top it off": Vernon Philander slams Steve Smith for Rabada contact (and then says he didn't)

South Africa's Vernon Philander. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
14th March, 2018
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South Africa’s Vernon Philander has made shockwaves on social media after he attempted to put Australian captain Steve Smith at fault for the incident that saw Kasigo Rabada banned for two Test matches.

In a tweet earlier today, Philander slammed the Aussie skipper for “trying some football skills to get a penalty”, and – somewhat paradoxically – claiming “he could have avoided [the] contact”, while also saying he “gave [Rabada] the shoulder”.

Philander concluded that Smith was “just as guilty” as the banned Proteas tearaway.

The news comes just one day after South Africa said they’d challenge Rabada’s two-match ban for a Level 2 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.

Rabada appeared to make physical contact with Smith after dismissing him during the second Test at Port Elizabeth. After the match, he said felt bad about the incident, telling reporters, “if I do get banned, then I have to see it as a big learning curve.”

“I’ve let myself and the team down,” he said.

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Match referee Jeff Crowe was quick to cite Rabada for the incident, fining the 22-year-old half of his match fee and issuing him three demerit points.

That took the paceman to eight demerits, which saw him dealt a two-game ban that has ruled Rabada out for the rest of the series. However, South Africa still have some hope of fielding him in the remaining Tests after opting to appeal the ban.

UPDATE: Philander has now distanced himself from the original tweet, claiming his account was ‘hacked’.

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