Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has rued a familiar lack of discipline, after being suspended by the International Cricket Council for one Test.
Rabada has been banned for this week’s fourth and final Test against England at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. He received one demerit point and was also fined for an arguably overzealous celebration after bowling England captain Joe Root on day one of the third Test at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth last week.
He has accumulated four demerit points over a 24-month period, resulting in this one-Test ban. Rabada had previously been sanctioned for similar infractions against Australian batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner.
‘It can’t keep happening, because I’m letting the team down and I’m letting myself down. It just can’t keep happening and that’s why it hurts so much,’ said Rabada.
‘It’s something that I didn’t expect. Whether it was the right thing to ban me, or the wrong thing, the reality is that I am banned. Obviously it hurts, but it gives me a chance to work on my game and to have a bit of a rest.’
Rabada will likely be replaced in the XI by Lions left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks or Dolphins all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo.
‘I have belief in anyone who is going to come into my spot that they have the ability to knock anyone over. That is why they are picked for South Africa,’ he added.
England lead the four-Test series 2-1. They lost the series opener in Centurion before winning the second and third Test at Newlands and St George’s Park, respectively. The fourth Test, at the Wanderers, will start on Friday.
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