South African captain Faf du Plessis is confident of playing in the third Test as the Proteas' indignation at their leader's ball-tampering charge turned ugly on Monday.
In scenes belonging more on a football field than an airport doorstop, a reporter attempting to interview Du Plessis in Adelaide was physically attacked by the touring team's security. Nine Network reporter Will Crouch was repeatedly manhandled and pushed against a glass panel by South Africa's head of security Zunaid Wadee.
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South African staff barge reporter
Support staff for the South African cricket team push Channel Nine reporter Will Crouch as he attempts to approach captain Faf du Plessis.
The Proteas accused Crouch of "aggressively harassing our players with blatant disrespect" in a statement issued on Monday night. They also said Crouch had lunged at du Plessis with an "unknown object". The reporter was holding a microphone.
The incident has deflected attention away from Australia's on-field woes and generated negative publicity for a team that should be basking in the glory of a third victorious campaign on these shores.
Du Plessis will face an ICC hearing at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday afternoon to answer the allegations of ball tampering that have been levelled at him in the wake of the second Test in Hobart.
He was charged after footage showed him shining a ball with saliva with a lolly in his mouth. Players are forbidden from shining the ball with an artificial substance.
South Africa could argue that saliva produced while chewing a lolly is not artificial and no different to that after a player has consumed a sports drink, or used lip balm or rubbed a ball against skin that has had sunscreen applied.
After their extraordinary show of solidarity last week in Melbourne, the Proteas took their defiance up another notch upon their arrival in Adelaide in their defence of du Plessis.
![South African security man-handle a journalist trying to ask Faf du Plessis a question.](/web/20161122182457im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/t/v/b/2/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gstv5y.png/1479759407852.jpg)
Upset that their refusal to grant an interview was not heeded, Wadee pushed and shoved Crouch several times, knocking the microphone out of his hand. Crouch pushes a team official in the back as he attempts to retrieve his microphone. The reporter responds by fending Wadee to the chest, to which he is shouldered away.
Crouch makes another attempt to quiz du Plessis, who was wearing sunglasses and headphones, but is shepherded by Wadee, who shoves the reporter against a glass panel as they exit through sliding doors.
![The South African security guard elbowing the journalist in the ribs.](/web/20161122182457im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/t/v/d/2/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gstv5y.png/1479759407852.png)
Wadee was seen on Friday man-handling another Channel Nine journalist, also trying to interview the South African captain.
The episode angered the Proteas, who are not accustomed to being approached by reporters in such a manner back home, though it is a common occurrence in Australia. It divided opinion on social media with some accusing the media of being intrusive.
"Disappointed.. such provocative behaviour from reporters. Let a man walk in peace. Ask with manners n courtesy and u prob will get a response," Amla tweeted.
Proteas team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee said he was upset the team's wishes had not been met by media.
"The Australian media and Channel Nine News in particular have been advised on numerous occasions over the past few days that Cricket South Africa and captain, Faf du Plessis, are not in a position to comment on the alleged ball-tampering issue," he said.
"However, despite our best intentions to co-operate with the Australian media, Channel Nine News' behaviour has been disappointing. We have advised of our media protocol which has been blatantly ignored, both at the team's hotel on Friday and Saturday and again at the airport in Adelaide today.
"This is the third incident of a reporter aggressively harassing our players with blatant disrespect of the above-mentioned media protocol.
"Throughout the tour we have respected all our media obligations and treated media with utmost respect. At the same time, we would like to see this respect reciprocated and will not accept such behaviour as displayed by the Channel Nine News reporter."
Think this Proteas trainer has been watching too much NFL. Very aggressive pass-blocking as @WillCrouch9 tries to interview @faf1307 #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/SlAf4GgHDW
— Nathan Stitt (@nathanjstitt) November 21, 2016
Disappointed.. such provocative behaviour from reporters.Let a man walk in peace.Ask with manners n courtesy and u prob will get a response.
— hashim amla (@amlahash) November 21, 2016
Sad that this is what our tour has come to. https://t.co/ILrWckVw75
— JP Duminy (@jpduminy21) November 21, 2016