Faf lashes at Smith over Rabada ruling
Aussies skipper livid his side not heard
South African captain Faf du Plessis on yesterday hit back at his Australian counterpart Steve Smith’s criticism of the decision to overturn a ban on South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.
Rabada’s punishment of three demerit points for deliberate physical contact with Smith in the second Test in Port Elizabeth was reduced to one point, overturning a twomatch ban that would have seen him ruled out of the series.
Smith claimed in an overnight interview with Australian journalists that the contact with Rabada in the second Test in Port Elizabeth had been “a little bit harder than it actually looked on the footage”.
The Australian captain said he was surprised he had not been asked his opinion before the ruling was made and also claimed that a “line in the sand” had been drawn regarding physical contact.
“The ICC have set the standard, haven’t they? There was clearly contact out in the middle,” said Smith.
“I don’t think that is on and part of the game. But the standard has been set.” Du Plessis, though, praised the appeal process, saying it was good for cricket.
“I don’t see a problem with having a fair system where a neutral guy sits and listens to both parties,” he said.
Du Plessis dismissed Smith’s comment about not being called to testify, ahead of the third Test in Cape Town today with the series locked at 1-1.
Smith said Australia would field an unchanged team for the eighth Test in a row.
Du Plessis said two positions were being debated in the South African camp with a fitagain Temba Bavuma challenging for a batting place ahead of Theunis de Bruyn and fast bowler Morne Morkel possibly replacing Lungi Ngidi, who had a “toe niggle”.
– AFP
I don’t see a problem having a fair system where a neutral guy listens to both parties Faf du Plessis PROTEAS CAPTAIN