Jos Buttler has been disciplined by the International Cricket Council for his outburst at Vernon Philander during the second Test against South Africa.
Buttler was keeping wicket during a tense final day in Cape Town when he launched a series of expletives at Philander, seemingly angered by the batsman’s decision not to move out of the way of a throw.
The exchange was picked up by the stump microphones and shared widely on social media, leaving Buttler with little option but to accept the match referee’s charge.
He will lose 15 per cent of his match fee and pick up one demerit point having breached the ICC’s disciplinary code. Suspensions kick in only after players have accumulated four demerit points in a two-year period and, as this is Buttler’s first such offence, he is in no imminent danger of missing any cricket.
“Buttler was found to have breached Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘use of an audible obscenity during an international match’ following an incident with South Africa all-rounder Vernon Philander,” An ICC statement read.
“Buttler admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.
“In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Buttler, for whom it was the first offence during a 24-month period.”
Speaking after England’s series-levelling victory at Newlands, captain Joe Root gave the incident short shrift.
“I don’t think anyone overstepped the mark and you want a bit of something to talk about, a bit of spice on the TV don’t you?” he said.
“Hopefully it’s not a big deal and we can just get on with it. I don’t think it will linger throughout the series – it’s just two guys playing hard Test cricket. At that stage in the game emotions were probably running quite high.”
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Ahh.. The Gentlemen’s game. :thumbup:
Jeff
Roar Rookie
With the candlestick in the parlour.
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
You’ve got me again! :laughing:
Paul
Roar Guru
outstanding!!
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
So it's true then. The Buttler did it. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Sorry, I'll show myself out...
jameswm
Roar Guru
They're defending it? Incredible hypocrisy.
Matt of W
Guest
That Hussey comment on the homophobic slur were pretty disgusting really, shows a deep rooted dismissive attitude to the culture it promotes “alpha-males” yeah, that’s kinda the problem, being “alpha” doesn’t need to mean this kind of crap.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
"Philander was preventing Buttler from picking up a throw". Crap. He wasn't doing any such thing. He's under no obligation whatsoever to move out of the way of an incoming throw if he never left his crease in the first place. I don't actually care about the swearing but that defence of yours is something you just made up to suit your pov.
JGK
Roar Guru
Yeah. Root’s comments are disappointing. As were David Hussey’s after the Stoinis fine the other day.
Rob
Guest
The way the Pommys are defending this on social media is hilarious. If it was an Aussie player it would of been all over the news.
Tom
Guest
They should get rid of the stump mike. It's absurd to spy on highly stressed players in this way. They have enough to do trying to win a very tense match without having to bother about what they say in the heat of the moment. Philander was preventing Buttler from picking up a throw; in the circumstances it could have cost the match.
jameswm
Roar Guru
“I don’t think anyone overstepped the mark and you want a bit of something to talk about, a bit of spice on the TV don’t you?” he said. Sure we do Joe, but obviously Buttler did overstep the mark, otherwise he wouldn't have been fined.