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Australia v South Africa: Steve Smith faces possible dissent charge and could be suspended

Jon Pierik

Perth: Australian captain Steve Smith faces a possible dissent charge which could lead to him missing next week's second Test through suspension.

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Questions over Smith dismissal

Steve Smith was out in controversial fashion, given LBW despite advancing a long way down the wicket.

Smith was left dumbfounded when he was adjudged lbw for a duck to South African spinner Keshav Maharaj despite being hit well outside of his crease on day two of an intriguing first Test at the WACA Ground.

On a day when Australia's batsmen collapsed against a South African attack missing Dale Steyn - he was ruled out for the rest of the series on Friday night because of a shoulder injury - Smith made his exasperation clear in a demonstrative manner to umpire Aleem Dar when given out, and could face a sanction.

Steve Smith made his exasperation clear to umpire Aleem Dar when given out for lbw.
Steve Smith made his exasperation clear to umpire Aleem Dar when given out for lbw.  Photo: AP

Smith called for a decision review, which would have made his blood boil even more for the delivery would barely have clipped leg stump - but Dar's call was correct.

He was fined 30 per cent of his match fee in February by match referee Chris Broad for a level one offence for a heated exchange with on-field umpire Ranmore Martinesz in the second Test in Christchurch.

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Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of dissent handed down by the ICC following the seven-wicket win at Hagley Oval, having been found to have shown "dissent at an umpire's decision during an international match".

If he was found to have breached the ICC code of conduct for a second time this year, he could face the loss of 50 to 100 per cent of his match fee and/or up to two suspension points. The latter equates to missing a Test. The second Test begins next Saturday in Hobart.

Big blow: South African fast bowler Dale Steyn leaves the field with the team physio after injuring his shoulder.
Big blow: South African fast bowler Dale Steyn leaves the field with the team physio after injuring his shoulder. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images

It would seem unlikely he would be suspended if found guilty of misconduct but match referee Andy Pycroft has that option.

Had Dar not given the decision out, and the Proteas had appealed for a review, it almost certainly would not have been given out for two reasons - the ball had barely nudged the stumps, and potentially because of Smith's distance from the stumps.

Replays showed Smith had been hit 2.8 metres away from his stumps - under the International Cricket Council's decision review system laws, if a batsman is more than 2.5 metres away from his stumps, the distance between the point of pitching and point of impact has to be less than 40 centimetres. On this occasion, it appeared to be more than 40 centimetres.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke said Dar had made a "courageous decision", while Test great Shane Warne said he was shocked by the umpire's ruling.

"I can't believe that's out. I just believe that sets a really dangerous precedent for the rest of the series. I don't think that was the right decision," Warne said on Channel Nine.

The leg-spinning great later took to social media to call for an overhaul of the DRS system.

"If a player reviews an lbw decision, please can we get rid of the umpire's call verdict and make it simple for the viewer, player and everyone watching," he said.

"Take the on-field decision out of the equation and if 40 per cent or more of the ball is hitting the stumps, [this equals] out.

"If less than 40 per cent of the ball is hitting the stumps, [this equals] not out. The reason for a percentage is the technology is not 100 per cent accurate.

"Also, all teams should be playing under the same DRS system. This should be funded by the ICC, not the TV networks. This also means all teams are playing under the same conditions and is fair."

Australia's summer of cricket has been robbed of one of its superstars after Steyn clutched his right bowling shoulder four balls into his 12th over on Friday and immediately left the field. Scans confirmed he had fractured a bone in his shoulder joint. He had endured a serious shoulder injury earlier this year.

Proteas team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee said: "Dale pulled up while bowling shortly before lunch complaining of severe pain to his right shoulder.  He was taken to the hospital for preliminary scans which confirmed a new fracture of the bone in the shoulder joint. He will take no further part in the match (he will bat if absolutely necessary) and the series, and will return to South Africa to see a shoulder specialist who will advise on an appropriate plan of action.

"An injury of this nature is rare and will in all likelihood require surgery but that will only be confirmed once we receive an opinion from the specialist." 

Steyn had just snared the crucial scalp of David Warner in his previous over, sparking the Proteas into action as they vaulted back into the opening Test through a brilliant burst of bowling. 

The Proteas will hope fellow veteran Morne Morkel, on the mend from a back injury and overlooked for this Test, can resume.

Debutant spinner Keshav Maharaj was given the nod in this Test, sparking suggestions he had been chosen to ensure the tourists met their renewed quota of six coloured players.

Steyn, having been a major disappointment on Thursday when he was lulled into pitching too short on a deck offering pace and bounce, rebounded with a more controlled performance, and was rewarded with Warner's scalp when the batsman chased a ball outside off stump and was snapped by Hashim Amla at slip.

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