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Taylor warns to tone down verbal barrage

Former skipper Mark Taylor says both the Aussies and Proteas risk earning a "bullies" reputation in fractious series

Former captain Mark Taylor has cautioned Steve Smith's Australia to be wary of over-using verbals to unsettle opposition players. 

In a fractious Test series against South Africa that has provided compelling entertainment, Taylor warned both teams had been using verbal tactics "too much" and risked being labelled "bullies".

The ex-skipper, who is now also a Cricket Australia Board member and television commentator, said both sides needed to "take stock and do something positive for the game" when the Test series resumes next week in Cape Town. 

There have already been six Code of Conduct charges laid by the ICC match referee Jeff Crowe in the first two Tests, four of them for on-field transgressions while David Warner and Quinton de Kock were also penalised for their stairwell stoush.

Australians Nathan Lyon and Mitch Marsh were fined and handed a demerit point each, while South Africa firebrand Kagiso Rabada has been penalised twice for separate incidents. All of the on-field indiscretions came following the fall of a wicket. 

"Both sides should be on their final warnings, and that definitely includes Australia," the former skipper told Wide World of Sports.


"There's been too much of this in-your-face celebration when batsmen are dismissed, and the Australian bowlers have been as guilty as the South African bowlers at times.

"Australia have certainly played their part in this, and both sides need to take stock of what's happened in the first couple of Tests and do something positive for the game.

"I'm not suggesting for a minute we have silence out in the middle, but there's no doubt it's getting worse. 

"Bullying is not a bad term for it, and they're using it too much. It just keeps escalating and now it's getting out of hand."

Prior to this series, no Australia Test player had received a demerit point from the ICC. Two Australians had received demerits for white-ball matches; Matthew Wade in an ODI against South Africa in October 2016, and Tim Paine in a T20 against Sri Lanka in February 2017.

While the tension has been high on-field, off the field the Australians have praised Rabada's skill following his match-winning 11-wicket haul in the second Test. 

Fellow pacer Mitchell Starc, who had his own run-ins for send-offs early in his career, was confident the South African would learn the lessons. 

"He's only young and made a couple of mistakes. He's a fantastic bowler to watch when he's in full flight and he's going to keep taking wickets and keep celebrating," said Starc.

Rabada goes again with Warner send-off

"I'm sure he'll learn going forward that you just can't get that close to the batter and the umps are going to be on you at all times. It's very much a no-no ... which I've learnt in the past."

Australia's captain Steve Smith and coach Darren Lehmann insisted they took no delight in Rabada's ban, which is expected to result in a recall for Morne Morkel.

Lehmann noted "it's never good seeing fantastic bowlers out of series", while Smith said he always wants to "go up against the best players as much as you can".

Mitchell Marsh, dismissed twice by Rabada at St George's Park, could not recall ever facing better bowling.

South Africa have opted to appeal the two-Test ban on Rabada, something Taylor said reflected how vital Rabada was to their fortunes.

"I'm not surprised South Africa are appealing the suspension because he's obviously a key player for them," Taylor said.

"Having taking 11 wickets in the last Test they are going to do everything they can to keep him on the field, but he's in trouble because he's already been found guilty.

"In my mind the contact with Steve Smith in the second Test was avoidable, so that's why he's in trouble."

A hearing date for Rabada's appeal has not yet been set.

Code of Conduct breaches

1. David Warner accepts a Level Two breach for "conduct that brings the game into disrepute". Warner was physically restrained by teammates while rowing with Quinton de Kock in the staircase at tea on day four of the first Test. Punishment: Fined 75 per cent of match fee and given three demerit points.

2. De Kock found guilty of a Level One offence for "conduct that brings the game into disrepute" after making a personal comment that ignited the scrap with Warner. De Kock appealed the sanction, but had his case dismissed. Punishment: Fined 25 per cent of match fee and given one demerit point.

3. Nathan Lyon accepts a Level One offence of "conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game", having dropped the ball near dismissed batsman AB de Villiers after completing a run out. Punishment: Fined 15 per cent of match fee and given one demerit point.

4. Kagiso Rabada found guilty of a Level Two having made "inappropriate and deliberate physical contact" with Steve Smith after dismissing the batsman in Port Elizabeth. Rabada has appealed this and is awaiting a hearing. Punishment: Fined 50 per cent of match fee and given three demerit points, making a total of eight demerit points to trigger a two-Test ban.

5. Rabada found guilty of a Level One offence of "using language, actions or gestures which could provoke an aggressive reaction" having screamed in the face of David Warner after bowling him. Punishment: Fined 15 per cent of match fee and given one demerit point to take total to nine.

6. Mitch Marsh accepts a Level One breach for "using language or gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting", having sworn at Rabada after being dismissed on day four in PE. Punishment: Fined 20 per cent of match fee and given one demerit point.