Quinton de Kock received one demerit point and was fined 25% of his match fee for his part in the tunnel altercation with David Warner.

At a hearing on Wednesday night, the match referee Jeff Crowe ruled that the Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman was guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.

Despite initial denials that De Kock did anything untoward, De Kock did not dispute the charge, but argued against the severity of the sanction. He was accompanied by captain Faf du Plessis, coach Ottis Gibson and team manager Mohammed Moosajee. He admitted to saying ‘something’ to Warner, but only after being provoked. South Africa presented two independent witnesses who confirmed De Kock’s assertion that he was responding to Warner.

Warner was charged with a Level 2 offence on Tuesday evening, and fined 75% of his match fee. Though he has accepted these sanctions, Australia claim Warner was responding to a jibe from De Kock, and they say it was ‘personal’.

Meanwhile, Crowe has convened a meeting of the captains and managers of both sides at St George’s Park to outline his expectations relating to player behaviour during the second Test in Port Elizabeth starting on Friday.

South Africa have complained of their batsmen being badgered and have called on the match officials to intervene.

The incident between De Kock and Warner took place in the players’ tunnel during the tea break on day four of the first Test at Kingsmead, and was caught on CCTV camera.

 

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