CA issues statement on Durban Test

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland says Australia's players have been reminded of the behavioural standards expected of them following the David Warner-Quinton de Kock incident in Durban earlier this week.

Warner was fined 75 per cent of his match fee and moved to within one minor offence of a suspension after he clashed with de Kock in the stairwell at Kingsmead during the tea break on day four of the first Test. De Kock was also fined 25 per cent of his match fee and handed one demerit point for his role in the incident.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon ahead of the start of the second Test in Port Elizabeth, Sutherland said "fans expect better" of the Australian team.

"The events of day four in Durban have unfortunately marred an otherwise very good Test Match and a dominant performance by the Australian men’s team," Sutherland said.

"CA supports the sanctions imposed on players from both teams by the ICC, and commends match referee Jeff Crowe for his handling of a difficult situation.

"CA has reminded the team of the standards of behaviour expected of players representing Australia.

"Those standards are spelled out in the ICC Code of Conduct and also the Preamble to the Laws of Cricket. As the Preamble states, cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws, but also within the Spirit of the Game.

"This includes the need to be respectful of opponents, and CA expects this to be observed by players at all times. Unfortunately neither team met this standard in Durban. The Australian team understands that fans expect better.

"Australia has always prided itself on taking a highly competitive approach to international cricket. This will not change, however CA is confident that what occurred in Durban will remain an aberration.

"Under the period of the current team leadership, Australian players have received fewer sanctions under the ICC Code of Conduct than players from the majority of the nine top-ranked Test playing nations.

"CA is confident that the rest of the series in South Africa will be remembered for enthralling cricket played in the right spirit by both teams."

Speaking this week, Warner said his reaction towards de Kock was sparked by a "vile and disgusting" personal sledge about his wife from Proteas gloveman.

While saying he regretted the way the incident played out, Warner added he will always defend his family.

"I cop it left, right and centre, especially off the field from spectators and I'm used to that and it doesn't bother me," Warner said.

"But in a proximity of my personal space and from behind me, a comment that was vile and disgusting about my wife, and in general about a lady, was quite poor I felt.

"My emotional response was just something that I don't believe should have been said and I'll always stick up for my family and in that case my teammates as well." 

Both skippers - South Africa's Faf du Plessis and Australia's Steve Smith - cleared the air in a meeting with match referee Jeff Crowe, the two respective team managers and the umpires on Thursday at St George’s Park.

Both parties and the match officials said they're keen to put the Durban incident behind them and make sure cricket is the main talking point over the next five days in Port Elizabeth.

"It was nice to just have a chat and just ensure that we’re playing within the spirit of the game and that cricket is what’s written and talked about after this game," Smith said.

"It’s all been about the indiscretions of the last fixture and it’s not what we want from the game. 

"Cricket has got to be the winner. It’s about staying in line, continuing to play good, hard cricket.

"There’s nothing wrong with a bit of banter out on the field, just making sure we’re not getting personal, not crossing any lines and we’re just playing the game."

The second Test gets underway at 7pm AEDT tonight. 

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13. Live coverage

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage