Aussies to hammer Philander over tweet

THE war of words between Australia and South Africa is set to continue in the third Test, with the tourists keen to probe Vernon Philander about the colourful tweet sent from his account last week.

Australia and South Africa returned to training last night after enjoying some time off, with the touring party confident Mitch Marsh will prove his fitness after suffering a minor groin strain in the second Test.

Off-field matters continue to dominate the headlines – and not just Kagiso Rabada’s hearing, the result of which will be known by tomorrow at the latest. An inflammatory message was posted on Philander’s verified Twitter account at ap- proximately midnight last Wednesday (South African time), in which it was suggested Steve Smith was responsible for the physical contact that led to Rabada’s two-Test ban.

“Steve Smith gave KG the shoulder,” it noted.

“He could have avoided any contact but to me he is just as guilty. Trying some football skills to get a penalty??? Pity he didn’t dive to top it off.” Philan- der, who is no stranger to onfield verbal stoushes with Australia during his 52-Test career, deleted the message and claimed the following morning that his account was “hacked”.

Was it a brazen bot, Russian cricket fan, foolish friend or someone else? Smith’s side want to find out more and will have a chance to do so when the four-Test series continues in Cape Town on Thursday.