PORT ELIZABETH: South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is in danger of being banned for the rest of the series after he was charged on Saturday by match officials for intentionally bumping into Australia captain Steve Smith when he got him out on the first day of the second test in Port Elizabeth.
Rabada was charged with a level two breach of the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct regarding inappropriate physical contact. Rabada bumped into Smith with his shoulder during his follow-through after dismissing the Australia skipper lbw on Friday at St. George’s Park.
Rabada currently has five demerit points on his disciplinary record and will be banned for two tests if he reaches eight demerit points. Level two offenses carry a penalty of three to four demerits, which would take Rabada over the threshold.
Rabada will contest the charge on the basis that he claims the contact with Smith was unintentional, South Africa team spokeswoman Lerato Malekutu said. Rabada will have a hearing later on Saturday following the second day’s play, she said.
It’s the second time the 22-year-old Rabada, recently ranked the No. 1 test bowler in the world, has been charged over inappropriate on-field physical contact. Last year he was found guilty of deliberate physical contact with Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella and was given three demerit points. He served a one-test ban in England last year.
Rabada’s is the fourth player disciplinary case of an ill-tempered South Africa-Australia series, which is only two days into the second of four tests.
Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon was fined for bringing the game into disrepute after celebrating a wicket in the first test in Durban by intentionally dropping the ball on South Africa batsman AB de Villiers.
The animosity between the teams then spilled over in Durban when Australia’s David Warner and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock were involved in a confrontation on a staircase near the dressing rooms during a break in play. In the incident, a clearly angry Warner had to be restrained by teammates as he argued with de Kock.
Warner and de Kock were also fined and given demerit points but are both playing in the second test, as is Lyon.
Kagiso Rabada charged over Steve Smith shoulder bump and faces ban
Kagiso Rabada charged over Steve Smith shoulder bump and faces ban
Griezmann’s free kick seals Atletico Madrid progress in Copa del Rey
- Last year’s champions Barcelona will play at Racing Club Santander on Thursday
Antoine Griezmann’s sublime second-half free kick earned Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at second-tier Deportivo La Coruna on Tuesday, securing their spot in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
Coming off a frustrating start to 2026 with a disappointing 1-1 draw in LaLiga against Real Sociedad and a 2-1 loss in the Spanish Super Cup to bitter rivals Real Madrid, Diego Simeone fielded a near full-strength side at the Riazor Stadium, with only goalkeeper Jan Oblak rested among regular starters.
Midfielder Conor Gallagher, reportedly close to joining Tottenham Hotspur, and forward Giacomo Raspadori, linked with a move to Atalanta, were also absent from the squad that made the trip to Galicia.
Atletico dictated the early proceedings, with Julian Alvarez denied by La Coruna keeper German Parreno following a sharp effort, while Matteo Ruggeri struck the woodwork in the 15th minute.
La Coruna came close to an opener when Cristian Herrera’s close-range shot was superbly saved by Atletico’s back-up goalkeeper Juan Musso.
Griezmann grew into the game, narrowly missing the target with a fierce strike from distance that rattled the crossbar in the 40th minute before the decisive moment arrived in the 61st.
Awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, Griezmann stepped up and delivered a left-footed effort that curled into the top corner, leaving keeper German Parreno with no chance.
Atletico maintained control for much of the second half, their defensive organization under Simeone proving impenetrable for a La Coruna side that has now won just once in their last seven outings across all competitions.
Despite dominating possession and creating further chances, Atletico struggled to add to their lead, with Griezmann’s strike proving the only goal of the match.
Atletico were the first team to advance to the quarter-finals, as Real Madrid will visit Albacete on Wednesday in Alvaro Arbeloa’s debut as the club’s new manager following Xabi Alonso’s departure on Monday.
Last year’s champions Barcelona will play at Racing Club Santander on Thursday.
