South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada invited trouble by giving a send-off to Australian batsman Chris Lynn during the second ODI, which Australia won by 7 runs at the Adelaide Oval.
Rabada, currently on seven demerit points will be banned for four ODIs or two Tests (whichever comes first) if he gets another demerit point under the ICC Code of Conduct. So far, there has been no official word from the match referee Jeff Crowe.
In the 27th over of Australia’s innings, Lynn clobbered Rabada for six and three fours in the first four balls of the over. In the fifth ball, the young South African made a strong comeback and had Lynn gloved off to the wicket-keeper for 44. Everything was fine till this point. But Rabada, keeping true to his nature, decided to give a send-off to Lynn after having the last laugh by getting him out. He charged towards Lynn and said a few words before the Australian walked off.
Lynn, for his part, did not read too much into the incident. "Bit of a send-off at the end, I don't mind it at all," Lynn said of his dismissal at the end of the innings.
Rabada has got a history of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct. He reached the eight demerit point mark earlier this year after brushing the shoulders with Australian captain Steve Smith and was subsequently banned for the following two Tests. The decision, however, was overturned after the fast bowler appealed against it.
But Rabada continued to flirt with danger. He was given another demerit point for giving a send-off to David Warner in the second innings of that Test match.