Steyn savages Aussies with stunning sledge
Injured South African bowler Dale Steyn has lashed out on social media after captain Faf du Plessis was charged with ball tampering.
The ICC on Friday confirmed a ball-tampering charge against du Plessis after video emerged of him shining the ball with saliva while a mint was in his mouth.
The stand-in skipper has pleaded not guilty and the ICC is yet to confirm when du Plessis will front match referee Andy Pycroft to plead his case.
Steyn, who is back in South Africa after injuring his arm in Perth, fired up on Twitter late on Friday, implying that the Australian team were behind the ball tampering claims.
Beaten with the bat.
Beaten with the ball.
Beaten in the field.
Mentally stronger.
Here's a idea, Let's blame it on a lollipop 🍭 #soft— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) November 18, 2016
However he later stepped back from levelling blame at the players.
Just so we clear, I'm not blaming the aussies, but I won't let a fantastic series win be tarnished by some lollipop fabrication. 3-0 mission
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) November 18, 2016
As veteran cricket writer Peter Lalor explained, the claims had nothing to do with the Aussies.
The biggest joke of this mintgate nonsense is the Saffers trying to say Oz r poor losers. Oz team wanted nothing to do with it.
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) November 18, 2016
Steyn wasn't the only Proteas bowler to have his say, with Kagiso Rabada tweeting the following:
Excuse - Seek to lessen the blame attaching to ( a fault or offence ) ; try to justify. #responsibility lack there of..
— kagiso rabada (@KagisoRabada25) November 18, 2016
ICC chief executive David Richardson laid the charge on Friday, with the allegation du Plessis had breached the rules by changing the condition of the ball.
"The alleged incident happened on Tuesday morning when TV footage appeared to show du Plessis applying saliva and residue from a mint or sweet - an artificial substance - to the ball in an attempt to change its condition," the ICC said in a statement.
"All level two breaches carry an imposition of a fine between 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the applicable match fee and/or up to two suspension points, and three or four demerit points."
Three years ago, du Plessis was fined 50 per cent of his match payment when he rubbed the ball on the zipper of a trouser pocket.
Match referee David Boon said at the time he was satisfied it wasn't a deliberate attempt to manipulate the ball's condition.
Earlier on Friday afternoon, Proteas batsman Hashim Amla spoke to the media at the MCG with teammates standing behind him in a show of support for du Plessis.
"The reason everyone is here is to stand together, really, and to show solidarity to something ... we thought was actually a joke," Amla said.
"It's not April, but the allegation against Faf was ... a really ridiculous thing.
"As a team, we're standing strong, we've done nothing wrong.
"It's basically a joke."
It was then put to Amla the ICC was investigating his captain.
"Whether it is or not, we've done nothing wrong and I know Faf has done absolutely nothing wrong," he said.
"I chew bubblegum while I'm on the field - you want me to brush my teeth after lunch?
"We're standing out on the field for two hours ... there was no malicious intent whatsoever."
As officials tried to change the topic, Amla and some journalists had a testy exchange about the subject.
"Is it proven or what? Because that's something that is really new to us," Amla said.
"I've had sweets in my mouth, bubblegum in my mouth, butong, nuts - I'm not sure what the big deal is.
"To a lot of people, it's sounding more like sour sweets."
South Africa will play Victoria in a day-night one-dayer at the MCG on Saturday, using a pink ball to prepare for the third Test in Adelaide.
with AAP