How the Rabada saga has unfolded

March 9 – The Incident

After trapping Australia captain Steve Smith lbw for 25 midway through the afternoon session on day one of the second Test in Port Elizabeth, Rabada brushes shoulders with the departing batsman as he celebrates the prize wicket of the world's best Test batsman.

March 9 – The First 5-fa

Rabada rips apart Australia in a blistering spell of 5-13 in 18 balls either side of tea to finish with 5-96 as the tourists are bowled out for 243.

March 10 – The Charge

The standing umpires – Kumar Dharmasena and Chris Gaffaney – report Rabada for a Level 2 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct. A Level 2 offence carries with it a maximum 100 per cent fine and between 3-4 demerit points. Having entered the series with five demerit points on his disciplinary record, a Level 2 offence would rule the paceman out for two Tests and the remainder of the series. Rabada contests the charge with a hearing set for after play on day two at St George's Park in front of ICC match referee Jeff Crowe.

March 10 – The Delay

Umpire Gaffney is struck down with gastro and is unable to take the field. S Ravi takes Gaffney's place out in the middle for the remainder of the match and the hearing is pushed back until after play on Sunday.

March 11- The Send-Off

Rabada castles Australia vice-captain David Warner with a brilliant delivery on day three and follows it up by shouting in the face of the dismissed batsman.

March 11 – The First Hearing

In a hearing that lasted almost an hour, match referee Crowe listened to Rabada's plea, with umpire Dharmasena, Proteas captain Faf du Plessis and team manager Dr Mohammad Moosajee also present. Champion South Africa batsman AB de Villiers said Rabada has to be "smarter" when celebrating wickets.

March 12 – The Second Charge

The ICC hits Rabada with a Level 1 breach of the Code of Conduct for his send-off of Warner. A Level 1 offence carries with it a maximum 50 per cent fine and between 1-2 demerit points.

March 12 – 10-fa and Player of the Match

Rabada betters his first-innings performance with 6-54 in the second innings to restrict Australia to 239 and set up a six-wicket, series-levelling win to the hosts. Rabada's match haul of 11-150 was his fourth 10-wicket haul in just 28 Tests and earned him Player of the Match honours.

March 12 – The Press Conference

Rabada fronts the media after South Africa's victory and admits he "let his team down" with his wicket celebrations. The 22-year-old said he would not change the way he acts on the field, but that he'll express himself away from opposition batsmen.

March 12 – The Suspension

Rabada is found guilty of making deliberate contact with Smith by Crowe and is fined 50 per cent of his match fee and given three demerit points. The eight demerit points on his disciplinary record trigger an automatic two-Test suspension. Rabada has 48 hours to appeal the punishment, but accepts the Level 1 sanction for the Warner send-off.

March 13 – The World's Finest

Less than 24 hours after being suspended by the ICC, the governing body announces Rabada is the world's No.1-ranked Test bowler after his stunning performance in PE.

March 14 – The Appeal

Rabada, with guidance from Cricket South Africa and legal counsel, appeals Crowe's decision. High-profile barrister Dali Mpofu is hired by CSA to act on Rabada's behalf at the yet-to-be-determined hearing in front of an ICC-appointed Judicial Commissioner.

March 15 – The Tweet

A tweet from Proteas veteran Vernon Philander proclaims Smith "just as guilty" for the contact with Rabada and questioned whether the Australia captain was 'diving' like a soccer player in order to get a penalty. Less than 12 hours later, Philander claimed his Twitter account was hacked.

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March 16 – The Appointment

New Zealander Mike Heron QC is appointed by the ICC as the Judicial Commissioner, with the hearing set for Monday, March 19 via video conference.

March 19 – The Second Hearing

After six hours, the marathon hearing comes to a close, with Heron to deliver his verdict within 48 hours. Having missed the first half of practice due to the hearing, Rabada joins his teammates at Newlands and bats, bowls and fields as if he's playing in the third Test starting Thursday.

March 20 – The Verdict

Judicial Commissioner Heron was not ‘comfortably satisfied’ Rabada intentionally made contact with Smith and found him not guilty of deliberately making physical contact. Heron did find Rabada guilty of conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game and the youngster was fined 25 per cent of his match fee and handed one demerit point. Rabada is free to play in the third Test, but is now just one minor indiscretion away from suspension. 

Qantas tour of South Africa

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

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 South Africa won by six wickets. Scorecard

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

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