England all-rounder Ben Stokes got involved in a heated verbal exchange with a South Africa fan on day one of the fourth Test in Johannesburg.
The tourists had made a promising start to the final match of the series, reaching 107-0, having won the toss before a mini-collapse saw them lose four wickets in quick succession.
Stokes, who propelled England to victory in Port Elizabeth with his ninth Test century, was furious with himself when he got out for just two, caught at slip attempting to drive Anrich Nortje through the leg-side. As he made his way back to the dressing room, Stokes was caught on camera gesturing at a spectator before saying ‘say that to me outside the ground, you four-eyed c***’.
😯😯😯 pic.twitter.com/SVdls1MRfR
— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) January 24, 2020
Ben Stokes offering somebody out. Things you love to see. National hero.
Will still get a ban though. pic.twitter.com/M0pn2CzyQK
— DandyMUFC (@mufc_dandy) January 24, 2020
Joe Root & Co. at the end of the day’s play were 192 for four.
England currently leads a delicately poised four-match series 2-1, but several controversial incidents have pockmarked the contest. Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler was fined 15% of his match fee and awarded a demerit point after the stump microphone caught him insulting veteran South Africa bowler Vernan Philander during the second Test in Cape Town.
Kagiso Rabada, meanwhile, was banned for one match and is sitting out the current Test after he was handed his fourth demerit point in the space of 18 months. The Proteas speedster celebrated in an overly aggressive manner after taking the wicket of Joe Root during the third Test in Port Elizabeth.
