Rabada picks up second disciplinary charge in same Test

While Kagiso Rabada awaits the ruling on the Level 2 charge against him - for having brushed Australian captain Steven Smith in the shoulder - he has been hit by another charge: a Level 1 offence for the send-off he gave David Warner in Australia's second innings in Port Elizabeth. Rabada is currently on five demerit points and could earn three more if found guilty of the Level 2 charge, which would see him banned for the next two Tests.

He has yet to respond to the Level 1 charge, which was levelled for screaming in Warner's face after dismissing him. Though no expletives were heard, provoking a response from the batsmen is also an offence according to the ICC's code of conduct.

If found guilty of both offences, Rabada's total demerit points will amount to at least nine, which means he will be on the threshold of 12 points. Twelve demerit points equate to six suspension points and could see him miss at least three Test matches.

Australia allrounder Mitchell Marsh, meanwhile, added to the growing list of this series' unsavoury moments when television cameras captured his verbal riposte to Rabada after he was bowled on the fourth morning in Port Elizabeth. In the first over of the day, Marsh was comprehensively bowled by a ball that sliced between his bat and pad, and, as Rabada ran past in celebration, the Australian was seen mouthing the words "f*** you c***" while turning his head towards the bowler.

Marsh had been the recipient of another celebration directed at the batsmen when dismissed by Rabada in the first innings; this time around, the bowler was far more composed but Marsh had his say. While the Australians had asked for stump microphones to be turned down whenever the ball is dead during this series, as is the case in Australia and in line with the ICC's guidelines, there are no restrictions on the use of close-up television replays. Marsh's response was duly repeated numerous times on the broadcast, and picked up on social media platforms around the world.

Rabada's Warner send-off was his second registered offence in the Test match. The first incident occurred on day one - on dismissing Smith in the first innings, Rabada yelled "yes, yes, yes" in the Australian captain's face and then their shoulders made contact as Rabada approached his team-mates.

Rabada is the leading wicket-taker in the series so far, with 15 scalps, and single-handedly bowled his team into a position of authority on the first day in Port Elizabeth, with five wickets in 18 balls. In the second gig, too, he helped wrap up Australia's innings quickly on the fourth morning to finish with innings figures of 6 for 54. A Rabada suspension could have a significant effect on the series, especially if Dale Steyn, who is targeting the Cape Town Test for a comeback from injury, is unavailable.

Three of the points he currently has will remain on his record until January 2019, having first been sanctioned in January 2017. Since then, he has developed a growing rap sheet, picking up another in July 2017, and one more last month. Each demerit point remains on his record for 24 months. He has already been suspended on disciplinary grounds once, when he reached four demerit points during South Africa's tour of England last year.