Jos Buttler fined for ‘use of an audible obscenity during an international match’

South Africa's Vernon Philander (C) stares at England's Jos Buttler (L) during the fifth day of the second Test cricket match between South Africa and England at the Newlands stadium in Cape Town on January 7, 2020. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP)


In a recent development, stylish England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler was fined 15 per cent of his match fee on Thursday by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his abusive rant targeted at South African star Vernon Philander during the second Test match at Newlands.

Buttler’s abusive rant was caught on the stump mic while he was keeping wickets during the second innings of the South African team in Cape Town.

Other than the fine, the 29-year-old will moreover be handed a demerit point for violating the ICC disciplinary code, his first such offence. Notably, players can be suspended if they reach four demerit points in a two-year cycle.

“Buttler was found to have breached Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘use of an audible obscenity during an international match’ following an incident with South Africa all-rounder Vernon Philander,” an ICC statement clarified as quoted by PTI via AFP.

“Buttler admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing,” the statement added.

England eventually won the match by 189 runs on the fifth day to level the four-match Test series 1-1.

The next test is scheduled to begin from 16 January at Port Elizabeth.