'What's the point of over-celebrating? And getting in the face of a batter, you've already won the battle,' fumes Smith.
Australia captain Steve Smith is not amused by the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to overturn the ban on South African fast-bowler Kagosi Rabada.
Rabada was cleared to play the remaining two Tests against Australia after winning an appeal against his ban over an alleged shoulder barge on Tuesday. The ICC said Rabada had been found not guilty of making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with Smith during the second Test in Port Elizabeth last week.
The Aussie skipper, though, was clearly not impressed with the decision. "The ICC have set the standard, haven't they? There was clearly contact out in the middle," Smith said ahead of the third Test in Cape Town starting Thursday. "I certainly won't be telling my bowlers to go out there and after you take a wicket go and get in their space. I don't think that is on and part of the game.
"I certainly think he bumped me a little bit harder than it actually looked on the footage. It didn't bother me too much. I guess it's the emotion after you get out. But what's the point of over-celebrating? And getting in the face of a batter, you've already won the battle. But they've obviously decided what's deliberate contact and what's not, and apparently it wasn't."
Meanwhile, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon on Tuesday said his team respects the decision to allow Rabada to feature in the rest of the Test series and the South African fast bowler’s participation is 'exciting'.
"It’s exciting, as Australian cricketers we always want to play against best and he is the number one bowler in the world, so it will be a challenge for all of us that have to bat," Lyon told reporters.
"The ICC has made their decision and we respect it, that’s their job. It’s not for me to sit here and say whether it is right or wrong. We have two massive Test matches to come and we will have to play at our best to beat South Africa."
Lyon said the Australians were only at 40 percent in their six-wicket loss to South Africa in Port Elizabeth, which followed a comprehensive 118-run win for the touring side in Durban. "We sat down and had a good debrief. If I am honest I thought we played at about 40 percent in PE. Another 100 runs and it would have been a helluva Test match," Lyon said. "We will have a team meeting tonight to sit and discuss where we can better. The pitch is interesting, it looks a pretty good wicket. It’s a helluva series with two top teams going at it."
Lyon had an excellent 2017 during which he took 63 wickets at an average of 23.55, but in this series each of his six dismissals have cost him close to 40 runs despite favourable conditions. "I think I have played my role (in the series), but credit to South Africa, they have played me well on spinning wickets. I am just trying to hold up an end up and challenge these guys’ defences," Lyon said.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh (groin) and seamer Mitchell Starc (calf) came through training on Tuesday after overcoming niggles and are available for selection.
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 "Steve Smith and Kagiso Rabada during the incident in question")
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