For most cricket fans a match up between Australia and South Africa is a battle of epic proportions. The test series in South Africa has already seen some brilliant cricket but the non cricketing events on and off the pitch has seemed to take over the media's attention. In my opinion this is cricket and the side shows have always been a part of the game. Players have always sledged their opponents and it only takes a YouTube search to figure that out.
The ICC has however in my opinion become a laughing stock. Banning a young fast bowler for two matches for "excessive celebration". Since when is a player not allowed to celebrate taking a wicket especially when the wicket of Steve Smith the number one rated batsmen in the world. Kagiso Rabada removed Smith who has struggled in South Africa up to this point. After this Rabada proceeded to celebrate in an extreme fashion and as he walked past Smith they brushed shoulders. This incident has now caused the ICC to ban Rabada for two test matches.
This does not only indicate the ICC's inconsistency as David Warner's extreme celebration in the second innings of the first test was purely disregarded and if the contact is sited as the reason for the ban, the ICC just makes the ban more laughable, because I have taken more intentional and heavy contact while grocery shopping. My next problem with the decision is that after the Quintin De Kock and David Warner incident in the dressing room in Durban no action was taken.
The inconsistency and pure ridiculous nature of the ICC's ruling leaves me to question if the governing board of world cricket really has the best interest of the game at heart? In my opinion the Australian's reaction to the returing banter has been poor as I believe if you can dish out verbal abuse you need to be able to take whatever is thrown back in your direction.
What do you think? Is Rabada's ban justified? Do you think that the fierce nature of the series will be disrupted with Rabada's absence?
Image Sources:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/kagiso-rabada-grabs-five-as-south-africa-leave-australia-reeling-on-day-1/story-gI4o660qDttZ9Rrw0TFgDI.html
https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/david-warner-and-quinton-de-kock-involved-in-fiery-off-field-exchange-1182015-2018-03-05