A clear case of double standards

Iknow it is complicated, but how on earth could Proteas cricket captain Faf du Plessis be fined more than his Indian counterpart Virat Kohli this week?

Du Plessis, who has led his team to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series with next week’s Wanderers Test still to play, was hit with a fine of 40% of his match fee for a slow over-rate in the Centurion Test this week.

The International Cricket Council’s match referee Chris Broad imposed the fine after the South African cricket team were ruled to be two overs short of their target when time allowances were taken into consideration. Time allowances can included anything from treatment given to a player, third umpire referrals, the time taken between wickets, time wasting and drinks breaks.

According to the ICC Code of Conduct for Players, which relates to minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10% of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that. So Du Plessis only received 60% of his match fee, and his players lost out on 20%.

Kohli, meanwhile, was hit with 25% of his match fee fine earlier in the Test for dissent against the umpire. Dissent is a mild word to explain his behaviour. The Indian skipper, not happy with returning to a damp outfield after a thunder-shower, threw a tantrum and hurled the ball into the ground in disgust.

He was given a demerit point. You get four over a period of 24 months and you face a ban.

I realise Kohli is sometimes misunderstood. His passion and intensity makes him the wonderful cricketer he is.

But he overstepped the mark this week, and failed to set an example for youngsters watching the game.

That he got off with a gentle slap on the wrist is even more disconcerting.

The money aside, the ruling against Du Plessis means should the South African team be found guilty of a slow over rate over the next 12 months Du Plessis would probably be suspended for the next Test match. More of a concern is that should it happen in this Test, he will probably miss out on playing in the first Test against Australia in Durban in March.

The simple answer is that if you see the letter of the law being applied consistently you are likely to have less complaints. While the offences can’t really be compared, common sense should have prevailed in these cases.