South Africa vs Australia: ICC reprimands Nathan Lyon

South Africa vs Australia

Day 4, Durban Test

What’s brewing?

Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council for his involvement in the run-out of AB de Villiers in the morning session of day 4 of the first Test between the Proteas and Australia at Kingsmead, Durban.

Lyon has been penalized with a portion of his match fees and one demerit points, accumulation of four would result in a ban of one Test match.

The heart of the issue

The first morning of the fourth day saw a bizarre turn of events when AB de Villiers ran himself out for a golden duck, his second in Test cricket. After dislodging the bails to run-out de Villiers, the off-spinner dropped the ball that grazed the chest of a diving de Villiers. The wicket of de Villiers triggered an aggressive celebration from the Aussies led by David Warner and Nathan Lyon.

Our Take

While Lyon has expected the charges laid down by the Match referee, the off-spinner was seen shaking hands with de Villiers at the end of the day’s play epitomizing that there was no malice intended in his action.

This wasn’t the only heated event that took place on the fourth day, the second being a heated altercation between Warner and de Kock in a stairwell during the tea break.