Broad penalised for altercation with Faf du Plessis 

JOHANNESBURG: England fast bowler Stuart Broad has become the fifth player to be fined and handed a demerit point during the Test series between South Africa and England.

Broad has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the fourth Test against South Africa at the Wanderers.

Broad was found to have breached Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “use of an audible obscenity during an International Match.”

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Broad, for whom it was the second offence in a 24-month period, taking his demerit points to two.

The incident occurred on Monday, when Broad approached South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and used inappropriate language. Broad, who was fielding in the covers, appeared to become involved in a heated discussion with du Plessis, after the South Africa captain had been hit on the pads by a throw to the keeper.

Du Plessis said after the match that he had been “trying to show fight as the leader”, as South Africa battled in the face of a hefty fourth-innings target. “It was just myself and Broady having a go,” he said.

On-field umpires Rod Tucker and Joel Wilson, third umpire Bruce Oxenford and fourth official Allahdien Palekar leveled the charges. 

Vernon Philander and Ben Stokes were both hit with penalties during the Wanderers Test, a game that Kagiso Rabada sat out after collecting his fourth demerit point within a two-year period in the third Test at Port Elizabeth.

Buttler was found guilty of a Level 1 offence in Cape Town, after being picked up by the stumps mics swearing at Philander.

England won the Test series 3-1, following a 191-run victory in Johannesburg. The tour will also encompass six limited-overs internationals, starting with the first ODI on February 4.