Mark Taylor: There’s been too much of in-your-face celebrations from both Australia, South Africa

Former Australian Mark Taylor isn't pleased with the behaviour the teams have displayed during the ongoing South Africa-Australia Test series.

Steven Smith and Kagiso Rabada have been in centre of news in the second Test at Port Elizabeth © AFP

Former Australian Mark Taylor isn’t pleased with the behaviour the teams have displayed during the ongoing South Africa–Australia Test series. The teams have been involved in several heated verbal duels and stepped over the ICC’s code of conduct. Taylor believes Australia too have played their part in the controversy. After fines imposed on Quinton de Kock and David Warner after first Test, Kagiso Rabada earned a two-Test ban. It’s a huge blow for South Africa as Rabada, with 11 wickets, won hosts the second Test to draw level in the series.

Speaking to Wide World of Sports, Taylor said, “Both sides should be on their final warnings, and that definitely includes Australia. There’s been too much of this in-your-face celebration when batsmen are dismissed, and the Australian bowlers have been as guilty as the South African bowlers at times.”

“Australia have certainly played their part in this, and both sides need to take stock of what’s happened in the first couple of Tests and do something positive for the game. I’m not suggesting for a minute we have silence out in the middle, but there’s no doubt it’s getting worse.”

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“Bullying is not a bad term for it, and they’re using it too much. It just keeps escalating and now it’s getting out of hand.”

‘Rabada’s contact with Smith was avoidable’

Taylor isn’t surprised that South Africa have decided to appeal against Rabada’s ban.

“I’m not surprised South Africa are appealing the suspension because he’s obviously a key player for them. Having taking 11 wickets in the last Test they are going to do everything they can to keep him on the field, but he’s in trouble because he’s already been found guilty. In my mind the contact with Steve Smith in the second Test was avoidable, so that’s why he’s in trouble,” Taylor concluded.