Breaking: Kagiso Rabada ban lifted, bowler available for Newlands Test

South Africa’s bowler Kagiso Rabada (C) celebrates the wicket of Australia batsman Tim Paine during play on the second day two of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Australia at The Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on March 2, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MARCO LONGARI

Watch: The Steve Smith incident that got Rabada suspended [video]

Rabada to miss the last two Tests.

Breaking: Kagiso Rabada ban lifted, bowler available for Newlands Test

South Africa’s bowler Kagiso Rabada (C) celebrates the wicket of Australia batsman Tim Paine during play on the second day two of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Australia at The Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on March 2, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MARCO LONGARI

The Proteas will have to go the rest of the four-match series against Australia without second Test hero, Kagiso Rabada, who’s brush-up with Aussie skipper, Steve Smith earned him a two-match ban on Monday.

The 22-year old was charged with a Level 2 offence, after coming into contact with Smith while celebrating his wicket after having him trapped in front for 25 in the first innings, en route to figures of 5/96.

The incident would have maybe gone unnoticed if it wasn’t for the batsman, who was quick to alert the on field umpires of the contact, which was later termed “inappropriate and deliberate” in Rabada’s charge sheet.

Watch the incident in video below:

For his troubles, the speedster was also docked 50% of his match-fee and received a further three demerit points which, when added to the five he has already accrued in the last two years, adds up to eight which is the threshold for automatic suspension.

This comes after a growing list of misdemeanors, mostly resulting from his passionate wicket celebrations.

In February last year, he was fined 50% of his pay, along with Sri Lankan batsman, Niroshan Dickwella for an incident similar to the one with Smith.

He later copped a one match ban for his send off aimed at English batsman, Ben Stokes, in the first Test against England at Lord’s in July last year. This resulted in him missing the second match at Nottingham, which resulted in victory for the Proteas – their only triumph in a 3-1 series defeat.

More recently, Indian batsman, Shikhar Dhawan was a recipient of one of KG’s infamous send-offs when South Africa played India at Newlands in the third ODI in February this year.

Rabada also copped another charge in the recently concluded Test, for literally getting in the face of Aussie vice captain, David Warner after clean bowling his with a pearler in the second innings on the third day.

 

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