South Africa are doing their best to position banned bowler Kagiso Rabada as a victim and they’re correct – Rabada is a victim of his own stupidity.
You can argue the ICC code of conduct rules are unfair, that they’re too tough, but you can’t argue that Rabada was unaware of those rules.
A lot of people are doing the former in an effort to absolve Rabada, or at the very least to position him as a patsy of a flawed system.
But that doesn’t change the fact Rabada twice at Port Elizabeth did things he clearly shouldn’t have done, according to ICC rules which he was well aware of.
There are three factors which make Rabada’s behaviour in that match particularly foolish. The first is the fact he had three prior offences on his record and knew this accumulation of points meant another offence would put him at great risk of a ban.
The second is that Rabada is acutely aware of how serious the ICC are about send-offs, having recently being banned from a Test in England for telling dismissed batsman Ben Stokes to “f— off”.
The third is that after the monumental furore over the David Warner and Quinton de Kock stoush in the first Test, it was obvious the match officials and the ICC would be heavily scrutinising player behaviour in the second Test.
Match referee Jeff Crowe told both teams after the first Test he would not accept any more overly-aggressive player behaviour. The second Test, then, was quite clearly the worst possible occasion for any player to hand out send-offs.
So what does Rabada do? He not only screams a send-off in the face of the opposition captain, but he deviates towards Steve Smith during this send-off, so much so that he causes physical contact, something forbidden under ICC rules.
Rabada must have known in that moment, or in the minutes afterwards, that he was in deep trouble given his past record and the heavy scrutiny on this Test.
When he was then charged with a level-two breach, putting him at risk of missing the rest of the series, you would think that would have concerned Rabada so much that we wouldn’t have heard a peep from him the rest of the Test.
David Warner was like a ghost on the field in the second Test, pulling his head in so as to avoid further penalties or drama after his boorish behaviour in the first Test.
But Rabada, in the ultimate act of idiocy and self-sabotage, decided to push his luck even further in the second innings.
He dominated Warner during their short battle in this innings, repeatedly forcing errors from the Australian before clean bowling him – the most emphatic way in which a bowler can dismiss a batsman.
(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Rabada was the victor, the conqueror. But instead of basking in this comprehensive triumph, he picked up a metaphorical shotgun and blasted off his own foot by giving Warner an animated send-off.
As it happened in real time I could not believe what I had just seen – Rabada had all but guaranteed he would play no further part in a blockbuster home series which he was currently controlling.
He had ensured that, while the cricketing community should have been feting his extraordinary 11-wicket performance, they were instead discussing his likely two-match ban.
Rabada committed not one but two acts of lunacy at Port Elizabeth. For that, he deserves no sympathy.
Savage
Roar Rookie
well said Riccardo
Savage
Roar Rookie
Connolly, Those who are continuously replying to your post with "HAHA","Lol","Boring" etc are only showing their naivety.Their delusions are beyond any cure known to mankind.Most sensible option is to simply ignore them.
Savage
Roar Rookie
Connolly, Those who are continuously replying to your post with "HAHA","Lol","Boring" etc are only showing their naivety.Their delusions are beyond any cure known to mankind. Most sensible option is to simply ignore them.
Riccardo
Guest
I applaud your patience and your rhetoric here mate. This place is chocca full of apologists so traction will continue to be limited. But you have essentially backed up your position and that has been partly reinforced by the outcome of Rabada's hearing. That Australian cricket continues to get away with the sanctioned tormenting and bullying of opposition players is shameful and unhealthy for the game and its future. Rabada needs to watch some Curtly Ambrose videos; when he got riled he said nothing but stood and stared and you just knew what was coming. Queue "Chin-Music"...
Perry Bridge
Guest
#JamesH The video shows Rabada changing direction towards his team mate coming in from gully - with whom he does the high 5(10). I'm still assert he was largely unaware of Smith in the broad scheme of things and that as he turned he suddenly realised he was there and tried to arch but made contact. He had every right to celebrate with his behind the wicket fielders. The charge of 'deliberate' never held enough water.
Connolly
Guest
O dear Ronan. An eminent QC disagrees with your learned opinion. "The key issue is whether Mr Rabada made ‘inappropriate and deliberate physical contact’ with Mr Smith. I am not ‘comfortably satisfied’ that Mr Rabada intended to make contact and I therefore find him not guilty of the charge," Heron wrote in his finding. “I am entitled, however, to consider whether the conduct involved constitutes a lower level offence. I consider the conduct was inappropriate, lacked respect for his fellow player and involved non-deliberate and minor contact. The actions contravened the principle that a dismissed batsman should be left alone." Poor Davey Warner.
Connolly
Guest
Mate when you try and rationally discuss cricket or any sport with a fan like qwetzen and the poster on my bedroom wall kids, all you get is barracking. Bless them they keep the turnstiles clicking over.
Connolly
Guest
qwetzen - I despair. To go through it once again. I am saying there is a distinction between sledging or situational aggression and SYSTEMIC BULLYING (apologies for the upper case but you must have an optical problem) which is what is being employed by the Australian cricket team under Lehmann or Boof as you affectionately call him (despair again) You are obviously just a fan of the Australian cricket team and good on you for that. Constructing a strawman and then jumping all over it is not rational discussion. Just read the little champ Davey's comments regarding Trott to understand that the psychological attack on Trott was premeditated and a disgraceful targeted abuse of a psychologically unwell opponent. Maybe one day we will get back to cricket when the bat and the ball did all the talking. As for Lehmann, sorry Boof (apparently it is important to use nick names in this discussion) as the coach he is ultimately responsible for the bullying, both legally (look it up) and ethically. Unfit to be associated with a national team. Poor old Boof.
Savage
Roar Rookie
NO qwetzen I don't have any superpower.TBH This was a predictable question from you.If it was a fact then we wouldn't be arguing right now.It is just my opinion.However it is a strongly-held opinion.You could've asked the same question to Ian chappell and many other experts also.These opinions(including mine) are formed after following the game of cricket. For ex- If I say steve smith is easily best test batsmen in the world.Not many would argue with me. If I say Australia is easily the worst behaved team when it comes to sledging.Not many would argue with me.In this case however,you are one who is still arguing. Anyway,That was just my opinion just to be clear.If you don't like it,then Feel free to disagree with me.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
It has been quite funny to read Connie's input here!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Yep - Root vehemently denied that he was being racist towards Amla AFTER Warner got suspended. Do you think that he would have admitted to being a racist?
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
You area aware that the Root/Warner incident (which as an aside was in reaction to a perceived slight on Amla) occurred in an English pub and was beyond the reach of the ICC. The Australia authorities did however send Warner home from that tour (in fact he then played for Australia A against South Africa I believe). You really do need to do some more research (or perhaps don't just use Hollywood Cop Dramas or the South African papers for your information)!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
What is his test average?
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
The circus is in town it seems!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
If the player is not on the ground when the ball is delivered then he can not take part in that ball/fielding action etc.
qwetzen
Guest
Connolly, Actually, I have 20-20 *and* binocular vision when it comes to seeing past flags. What I can't get past though is stupidity. Even when it's as hugely entertaining as your version. For instance; "He [Lehmann] is responsible for the deliberate bullying of opposition players dressed up as “sledging"." Leaving aside the key issue of defining what sledging actually is, it has been SOP in all senior levels of Australian cricket for at least 50 years. To proclaim that *any* non-playing current coach is "responsible" for it is as ridiculous as declaring that Australia has high-quality politicians.
qwetzen
Guest
Savage, Damn! I'd just about finished responding to this in detail and lost the lot. So Response Lite it is. Your comment on "reality" is *your opinion* of reality. I'm asking you where slut-shaming fits because you're pronouncing on behavioural boundaries *and* ignoring the possibility that someone *aside* from a nasty Australian may have crossed the line. "Amongst the Top ranked nations, Australia is easily the worst behaved team when it comes to sledging." Do you have some Super Power that enables you to hear and understand all the on-field chat in the world? ICC Demerits: Love your rationale! 'The points awarded don't support my opinion. Therefore the system is wrong.' "I don't have a billion dollars in the bank. The system must be wrong!"
Connolly
Guest
qwetzen - Boof? Boof? Yep he is a larrikin. No he isn't. He is responsible for the deliberate bullying of opposition players dressed up as "sledging". Its only a monologue because some here cant see past a flag when it comes to critically assessing sport. All best mate you are a fan.
qwetzen
Guest
Connolly, "For those defending Warner regarding Trott this is the whole reference." That'd be Nudge. And even he demolished your "case". No wonder you have to rest your case, the bottom's out of it. Anyway, thanks for the entertaining goalpost shift.
Connolly
Guest
No he didnt. He deliberately questioned his courage. Read the post below.