Cricket

[sprintcyclist]

drat, rabada is back

South Africa spearhead Kagiso Rabada will play in the third Test in Cape Town after successfully overturning a two-match suspension for making contact with Australia captain Steve Smith.

Initially charged with a Level 2 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for making inappropriate and deliberate physical conduct with Smith on day one of the second Test, Rabada has instead been found guilty of conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.


It means Rabada's three demerit point penalty from the original charge has been erased and replaced with one demerit point, taking his total to seven and allowing him to continue to play in the rest of the series.

Judicial Commissioner Mike Heron QC could not find enough evidence to suggest Rabada made deliberate contact with Smith.

Aussie injury cloud as Rabada returns to training

"The key issue is whether Mr Rabada made 'inappropriate and deliberate physical contact' with Mr Smith," Heron said.

"I am not 'comfortably satisfied' that Mr Rabada intended to make contact and I therefore find him not guilty of the charge under 2.2.7.

Rabada trains after marathon hearing
"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.

"I consider a penalty of the imposition of a fine of 25 per cent of the applicable match fee to be the appropriate penalty for the breach of Article 2.1.1. As a consequence, 1 demerit point accrues.

"Mr. Rabada will be well aware of the consequences of any further breaches of the code."

King Kagiso finishes with 11 in SA's second Test win

Rabada, Proteas team manager Dr Mohammad Mossajee and a legal team led by high-profile barrister Dali Mpofu argued the 22-year-old's innocence in a marathon six-hour hearing on Monday with Heron via video conference.

The outcome is a monumental win for South Africa, who have regained the services of the world's No.1 Test bowler and the speedster who ripped apart Australia in the second Test at Port Elizabeth with match figures of 11-150.

However, now that Rabada is on seven points, he is just one minor indiscretion away from being suspended for up to two Tests or four ODIs/T20Is, whichever comes first.

Cape Town curator promises green-top
It's been 11 days of chaos for Rabada, who brushed shoulders with Smith after dismissing the touring skipper in the afternoon session on day one of the second Test.

Rabada originally contested the Level 2 charge handed down by match referee Jeff Crowe but was knocked back, forcing the youngster and Cricket South Africa to appeal the decision to the ICC, which appointed Heron as Judicial Commissioner.

The six-hour hearing ended in Cape Town around 3:15pm on Monday before Rabada made his way to Newlands to train with his teammates ahead of Thursday's crucial third Test with the series locked at one-all.

Speaking to reporters on Monday while the hearing was taking place, Proteas opener Dean Elgar could not overstate the importance of Rabada's impact on the hosts and the five-day format.

It's been a hectic two weeks: Elgar

"Having him in the side is massive for us," Elgar said. "I think it's massive for the game, it's massive for the format, because 'KG' is an extremely special cricketer.

"But we do know there are rules that are implemented for certain incidents in the game and we as cricketers respect that.

"If he's good to go for the third Test it would be awesome for us and awesome for the game."

[The Mechanic]

Unbelievable....

[sprintcyclist]

I smell a bribe

[Black Orchid]

Cricket is one thing I cannot get into. The nuns made us play all day out in the hot sun and I grew to hate it

[Rorschach]

Cricket has been taken over by India, big money and rude obnoxious children.
Oh and why are they calling themselves Batters these days..... FFS?

[Neferti]

Cricket has been taken over by India, big money and rude obnoxious children.
Oh and why are they calling themselves Batters these days..... FFS?

I used to watch cricket back in the day when it was One Day/Night .... Test Cricket is boring. I don't have the Sports Channel ...

[sprintcyclist]

Cricket has been taken over by India, big money and rude obnoxious children.
Oh and why are they calling themselves Batters these days..... FFS?

I used to watch cricket back in the day when it was One Day/Night .... Test Cricket is boring. I don't have the Sports Channel ...

I like test cricket on the radio.
Then I can do whatever I want during the day and get updates whenever I want.

on tv it is terrible

[sprintcyclist]

3rd test

sa 266 for 8

[sprintcyclist]

not so good

sa 311,
Aust 67 / 2

[sprintcyclist]

nah, 245 for 9

we are 66 behind, 3 days to go