Appeal hearing held into Kagiso Rabada suspension

Image: Kagiso Rabada has taken 15 wickets in just two Tests against Australia

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada will learn the result of an appeal against his ban for the remaining two Tests against Australia within 48 hours, following a Monday hearing.

The hearing, via teleconference with judicial commissioner Michael Heron of New Zealand, lasted for more than five hours.

Cricket South Africa said the International Cricket Council would announce the outcome by Wednesday, the day before the start of the third Test against Australia.

The series is currently hanging in the balance at 1-1 after South Africa won the second Test in Port Elizabeth.

Rabada was named man-of-the-match after a superb display of fast bowling but was handed a ban for making physical contact with Australia skipper Steve Smith.

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The incident led to Rabada being given three demerit points, which took him to the eight-point threshold that triggers an automatic two-Test ban.

South African captain Faf du Plessis attended the early part of Monday's meeting before leaving to join the team but team manager Mohammed Moosajee and advocate Dali Mpofu remained with Rabada.

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Image: An AB de Villiers century in Port Elizabeth helped South Africa level the series

Australia's tour has so far been marred by altercations on and off the field. In the first Test, the visitors' vice-captain David Warner was involved in an altercation with South Africa wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock in a stairwell.

Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee has told AFP that, while he did not want to see behaviour "crossing the line", emotion and aggression were part of the game.

Lee said: "In all honesty, we don't want robots on the field."

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