Dale Steyn to be investigated over spitting incident against Windies

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn will be investigated by match referee Jeff Crowe for allegedly spitting in the direction of West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn during the third and final test at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

Steyn’s dismissal during the first session of the third day’s play had sparked the controversy.

He and Benn became embroiled in a war of words after which the South African spat in the direction of the left-arm spinner.

An ugly confrontation between Jacques Kallis and Kemar Roach also overshadowed the Test match. 

It erupted when Kallis walked past Roach to have a mid-pitch conference with Hashim Amla, and they were then involved in arm-waving and shouting, prompting Australian umpires Steve Davis and Simon Taufel to intervene.

Things settled down after Davis and Taufel had a long chat with West Indies captain Chris Gayle.

“We’ve had a discussion with the on-field umpires and the match referee and they will take this matter up to the next level if they have to,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Gayle, as saying.

Gayle further said that the series had been played in good spirit before the final test.

“It was brilliant leading up to this test match but things got out of hand. The series has been a wonderful one, it’s just unfortunate that at the end we had a bit of a boil up,” he added.  

South Africa completed a seven-wicket victory on day four on Tuesday, and clinched the series 2-0.