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Hit Test captains with the same demerit points as their team members

Former Australian cricket captain Steve Smith. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Expert
16th March, 2018
65

The current Test series in South Africa would never have degenerated into open warfare if the captains Faf du Plessis and Steve Smith had copped the same demerit points as their offending teammates.

If the individuals knew any fines, or demerit points, under the ICC Code of Conduct edict would impact on their skippers, only the brain dead players would offend.

And they wouldn’t be picked in future Tests until they has learned how to behave.

Had the suggested ruling been in place, du Plessis would have reigned firebrand paceman Kagiso Rabada in long ago to save his own neck, if nothing else.

And Smith would have kept a closer eye on his vice-captain David Warner, Nathan Lyon, and Mitchell Marsh.

In short, peace would have been the order of the day, resulting in breath-taking cricket you’d expect from a South Africa-Australia four-Test series.

But the loss of Rabada under suspension for the final two Tests has denied the series of the world’s best bowler, who is the youngest at 22, with Pakistani legend Waqar Younis, to take four 10-wicket hauls.

Rabada deserves the flick, but du Plessis can shoulder a fair amount of the blame.

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Even under the current rules, why did du Plessis let Rabada run amok for so long, knowing four demerit points in 24 months cops a one-Test suspension, and eight demerit points two Tests?

But Rabada chalked up his eight demerit points in just 13 months.

In February 2017, Rabada was found guilty of inappropriate and deliberate physical contact after dismissing Sri Lankan batsman Niroshan Dickwella to earn three demerit points, and a fine of 50 per cent of his match fee.

In July 2017, Rabada’s swearing send-off of Englishman Ben Stokes earned him another demerit point, and 15 per cent of his match fee.

The four demerit points forced Rabada to miss the Trent Bridge Test.

In February this year, Rabada gave Indian Shikhar Dhawan a verbal send-off for another demerit point, and a 15 per cent of match fee fine.

The shoulder contact with Steve Smith after the Australian skipper’s dismissal in the last Test at Port Elizabeth was vital on the way to three more demerit points, and a 50 per cent match fee fine.

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The eight demerit points was an automatic two-Test suspension for Cape Town, and Johannesburg.

It would be reasonable to assume had du Plessis been on the same demerit points and facing the same two-Test suspension, the South African captain would never have let Rabada go so far over-the-top with unacceptable behaviour.

Kagiso Rabada takes wicket of Kane Williamson

(AP Photo/Mark Baker)

And Steve Smith would be under the pump as well.

He’d be within one point of suspension with David Warner on seven demerit points.

Now it’s up to the ICC to move quickly to bring the Test captains into the demerit net to put some sanity back into what is fast getting out of hand.

But don’t hold your breath waiting for the ICC to act. Inertia is the governing body’s benchmark.

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