Rabada rues Root revelry, the era of Pope firmly in session... TEST TALKING POINTS

NICK HOWSON: South Africa allow the events of day two to consume them while Ben Stokes added to his reputation as the best cricketer in the world

• Scorecard
• Rabada banned
• Bavuma hails best form

Rabada has fun, cricket outraged

Less than an hour into play and already the agenda of the day was set. And it was triggered by a ball bowled a full 18 hours previous.

Kagiso Rabada's dismissal of Joe Root and the celebration which followed was one of the images of the day, and perhaps the year so far. A ball which at a similar length had previously leaped up, kept down and took out the captain's off-stump.

Reflecting the enormity of the moment - South Africa were probably on top at this stage - Rabada continued on his way down the wicket and let out a roar. 

With the stumps in a mess, Root looking bewildered and Rabada's teammates converging on him as the sun set in Port Elizabeth; it was the image of the day.

Of course, we have seen this before, not least at Cape Town when Zak Crawley was dismissed. But this was set against the context of the game and the fact Rabada had been denied the new ball at the start of the match. It had been a long, hot day that England had mostly dominated, and this was some light relief.

But come the second morning and that emotive piece of imagery was given an altogether different meaning. The ICC had intervened, slapping Rabada with a deduction in his match fee and most crucially, a demerit point - his fourth over a 24-month period.

Rabada will now miss the fourth Test and given the pace that would have been on offer at The Wanderers, coupled with the enormity of the game, it couldn't be a worse one to be absent for.

Rabada gets the England captain. #SAvENGpic.twitter.com/xuRHZy7Nva

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) January 16, 2020

However, the damage the reprimand has on the game is far greater than just a missed Test. This is the fourth penalty point Rabada has received in the last two years, and no-one can argue against any of those previous punishments. There were some ugly scenes in amongst them.

To suggest this episode was in the same hemisphere as those breaches is ambitious. Rabada made his way down the pitch, but unlike his contact with Steve Smith or confrontation with Shikhar Dhawan or David Warner during his three previous misdemeanors, he did not make a beeline for his victim Root. Whether it be his own self-restraint or irreverence, the celebration barely registered with the England skipper.

As Nasser Hussain observed, curbing this kind of act will kill a key aspect of the game. Cricketers are, despite popular opinion, human beings too. They laugh, they cry, they make mistakes. Accept it. Furthermore, Rabada did not use obscene language or make physical contact with his opponent. The ICC have seen what they wanted to see and acted accordingly.

It is also true that by strolling down the pitch and being in a similar space to Root that he will have piqued the interest of the authorities, particularly given his previous record. For someone who was on the brink of a ban, it was a rather foolish act. It isn't like the ICC's pedantic nature is a surprise. It goes without saying that he has been slow to learn where the line in the rules lies. Though he has been banned previously, maybe the penny will finally drop.

Underneath all this bluster is an uncomfortable reality. Demerit points, personal space, screams, barks, howls, and jeers. Cricket has far more deeper-seated issues than this to deal with. The authorities feel they might have followed the letter of the law with this offence, but their failure to address greater problems means their stance lacks credibility.

^{Ollie Pope made it a day to remember for the right reasons for England}

Stokes the fire

This is quickly becoming Ben Stokes' world. And we're all along for the ride.

It was another day of milestones for the ICC's cricketer of the year.

He went past 4,000 Test runs with a boundary which he heaved through wide mid-on.

Just seven players have gone past that landmark and accumulated 100 wickets. The Durham man is the first to do so for England since Sir Ian Botham.

And five runs later he had a ninth Test century, sparking a debate over just how many he will accumulate during his career.

Virat Kohli might have scooped the spirit of cricket award and been named in both Test and ODI teams of the year for 2019, but there is little doubt who the best player in the world is right now.

Rope a Pope

It is hard to remember a more inevitable maiden England centurion in recent times than Ollie Pope's effort on day two.

It was an innings of three thirds. The first came on the first evening, as he joined Stokes to hit South Africa to all parts. He closed on 39 from 79 balls, at a quicker lick than his illustrious partner.

But come day two, the enormity of the occasion finally hit home. What had started as an early evening jaunt became an innings of substance and significance in the morning.

That his next 61 runs towards his first Test century took 111 balls is not a criticism. Indeed, it is proof that while Pope might have a liquid technique that makes comparisons with Ian Bell more than adequate, he has the temperament to match. A remarkable trait to possess at a little over 22 years old.

The final sector of his knock was something special to behold. Granted, it came with the pressure relinquished from his shoulders and with England pushing for a declaration, but it was a sublime performance.

Thirty-five came from 36 balls, a blitz littered with reverse ramp shots and audacious pulls. Mark Wood even got in on the act with a breezy 41, but it would have taken something sensational to overshadow Pope.

Like with Stokes, you get the feeling the Surrey could merely pick the number of Test runs he wishes to score for England. He already averages over 50 in the five-day game, above 60 in first-class cricket, with two double centuries to boot.

If the 2010s belonged Kohli, then perhaps the 2020s are made for the Chelsea native.

*First of many, not his last etc etc

A special talent 👏#SAvENGpic.twitter.com/9I4zVAZxzo

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) January 17, 2020

To declare or not to declare

• 15.1 Time of declaration

The captain of the side batting may declare an innings closed, when the ball is dead, at any time during the innings. A declared innings shall be considered to be a completed innings.

• 15.3

A captain shall notify the opposing captain and the umpires of any decision to declare or to forfeit an innings. Once notified, the decision cannot be changed.

Rabada celebrates. Wood's cameo is over. Root waves them in. England are going to get a few hours to press home their huge advantage.

And then DRS interrupts, like an unruly uncle at Christmas when all you want to do is open the presents (it was a long December).

Replays show Rabada has overstepped, leaving Root with the job of backtracking. He cancels the declaration and thereby exposes a gap in the rulebook.

As yet, there is no regulation that indicates that a no-ball that changes whatever might have followed can allow for a declaration to be withdrawn. Only that, simply, it can't under any circumstances.

If you listen closely, you can hear the MCC scrambling around. Law 15 is about to get an extra appendix.

^{Faf du Plessis was powerless to prevent South Africa's demise}

South Africa dragged down by Rabada histrionics

Whether you agree with the action against Rabada or not, it was impossible to ignore how the news impacted on the South Africa display.

Shoulders were slumped, the fielding display lacked intensity and the atmosphere in the field was substandard. The only noise was coming from the famous St George's band.

England might have edged the opening day, but it was no more than that. A few early wickets would have put the hosts in the box seat and given them a grip on the Test, but it was not to be.

There will be anger within the South Africa camp, both regarding the decision from the officials and the position Rabada has put the team in. They hardly need another hurdle to jump given their build-up to the series.

But in many ways, given the uncertain preparation for these Tests, it shouldn't come as a surprise that even a slight psychological blow sends ripples through the squad. That is to be expected of a squad whose confidence is already wafer-thin.

Firmly on the backfoot in the context of the match, it is now up to Faf du Plessis to rouse his team and inspire a second wind. They surely can't save this match without one.