South Africa’s batting coach Ashwell Prince and cricketer Kyle Verreynne have received official reprimands and a demerit point each, following incidents of dissent during the ongoing Cape Town Test against Australia. These actions were deemed a breach of Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
The event in question occurred on day three of the match, when South Africa’s opener, Marques Ackerman, was dismissed in the second innings. Ackerman was caught by Cameron Green off the bowling of Mitchell Starc. While he sought a review, the umpires denied the request, asserting that the allotted 15 seconds had expired. As Ackerman made his way off the field, Prince was reported to have “shouted repeatedly at the umpires that there was still time left for the appeal to be taken,” according to an ICC statement. Meanwhile, Verreynne, not involved in the playing XI, encouraged Ackerman to stay at the boundary line, leading to a further delay in his departure from the field.
These actions violated Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which pertains to showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match. Both Prince and Verreynne were penalised with a demerit point added to their records—marking their first such offence within the last 24 months.
The charges were brought by umpires Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Chris Gaffaney, and Lubabalo Gcuma. Both South African team members acknowledged the offences and accepted the sanctions set forth by match referee Javagal Srinath.
The incident highlights the often-tense dynamics of Test cricket, where emotions can run high amid high-stakes matches, particularly in contests significant to the ICC World Test Championship standings. While contentious moments are not uncommon in the sport, they serve as reminders of the importance of maintaining decorum and respect for decisions made on the field.
