After taking the wicket of Steven Smith in the second Test, Kagiso Rabada celebrated wildly by screaming with aggression while also brushing the shoulders of Steve Smith by a whisker. As a result, he was found guilty of a Level 2 breach of ICC’s code of conduct by match referee Jeff Crowe and was banned from the subsequent two Tests.

The decision, however, has now been overturned after South Africa appealed against it. Rabada still has earned himself a demerit point and has been fined 25% of his match-fee for conduct that apparently doesn’t fit with the spirit of the game.

In his summary, judicial commissioner Michael Heron said:

“The key issue is whether Mr. Rabada made ‘inappropriate and deliberate physical contact’ with Mr. Smith. I am not ‘comfortably satisfied’ that Mr. Rabada intended to make contact and I, therefore, find him not guilty of the charge under 2.2.7.

“I am entitled, however, to consider whether the conduct involved constitutes a lower level offence. I consider the conduct was inappropriate, lacked respect for his fellow player and involved non-deliberate and minor contact. The actions contravened the principle that a dismissed batsman should be left alone.

“I consider a penalty of the imposition of a fine of 25% of the applicable match fee to be the appropriate penalty for the breach of Article 2.1.1. As a consequence, 1 demerit point accrues. Mr. Rabada will be well aware of the consequences of any further breaches of the code.”

As a result, Rabada is now cleared to play in the next Test against the Kangaroos.