Australia's response to stump mic volume

Australia’s Test stars took advantage of the amped up Kingsmead stump microphones to plug their sponsors on day two in Durban. 

As they do prior to each series, Australia asked the host broadcaster and the match officials for the stump microphone audio to be hushed in between deliveries as per the ICC guidelines.

But two days into the first Test the stump microphones appear to be up when the ball is dead, so the Australia players channeled champion wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and started plugging Cricket Australia sponsors Qantas and XXXX during the day’s play.

Allrounder Mitchell Marsh, who earlier made a rear-guard 96 to drive the visitors to a first innings total of 351, said after play the decision to support their corporate partners was made with no malicious intent.

"I wouldn't say it was a protest,” Marsh said. “I'd say it was a great opportunity to give our sponsors a bit of a plug. 

“Qantas, thank you for getting us here safely. 

“The stump mics really, for us players on the field, are irrelevant.

“It's about us as a team getting the ball in the right areas and we don't really worry about that, it was a bit of a joke to give the sponsors a bit of a plug."

Gilchrist famously plugged personal and CA sponsors during a Test against Bangladesh in 2006, talking in to the stump microphones to get his messages across loud and clear.

Stump mics were introduced in World Series of Cricket to pick up the sounds of the edges and the crack of leather meeting willow.

While the stump mics have always caught the voices of the players in close proximity to the wickets, foul or inappropriate language can been picked up.

Michael Clarke’s infamous “broken f***ing arm” incident in the first Test of the 2013-14 Ashes was broadcast to millions after it was captured on the stump mics, while last winter Kagiso Rabada’s obscene send-off of England allrounder Ben Stokes contributed to the fast bowler missing a Test match.

So far in Durban, the stump mics have only recorded sound effects and the Australians giving their sponsors some free air time but no sledging, which Proteas batsman AB de Villiers said wasn’t an issue on Friday.

"It was quite nice today,” de Villiers said at stumps with South Africa trailing Australia by 189 runs.

“They were very friendly compared to last time. It's the usual stuff. we expect some verbal stuff out there when you're playing cricket in general. It gets the juices flowing. I particularly enjoy it.

"And from the other side, we also get stuck in and try and unsettle the batters. It's part of the game."

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Kingsmead, Durban, March 1-5

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3