World cricketer of the year Ben Stokes had an angry altercation with a spectator after being dismissed on the first day of the fourth and final Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday.
Stokes, the outstanding player in a series which England lead 2-1, stopped briefly as he left the field and appeared to challenge a spectator, who evidently insulted him after the player was out for two.
“Come say that to me outside the ground, you fucking four-eyed c**t,” Stokes said, according to television footage captured as he left the field and started to climb the steps leading to the dressing room.
A clip of the incident was immediately distributed on social media.
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
The England all-rounder, who had been dismissed for just two, could face disciplinary action for uttering an audible obscenity, which is a level one offence according to the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct.
England media manager Danny Reuben said after play that Zak Crawley, the England player appearing at a close-of-play press conference, would not answer questions on the incident.
England were 192-4 at the end of the rain-shortened first day.