The ICC's decision to overturn Kagiso Rabada's two-game suspension for a breach of the game's code of conduct has divided the cricket world with the South Afircan now free to take on the Aussies.
The 22-year-old was initially suspended for the third and fourth Test after he made contact with Steve Smith following the Australian captain's dismissal in the second Test.
However the ICC ruled Rabada was not guilty following a six-hour appeal hearing involving the South African paceman, captain Faf du Plessis and Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee.
The world number one Test bowler's was forced to fork out 25% of his match fee and one demerit point as punishment instead of the initial three he had received.
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The downgrading takes Rabada to a total of seven demerit points, one below the threshold for a two-game suspension meaning he is free to run in against the Aussie batsmen in Cape Town.
However Newscorp journalist Robert Craddock has criticised the decision and told Fox Sports 'The Back Page Live' he couldn't understand how the ICC came to that verdict.
"I sit before you here totally shocked,” Craddock said.
“Not saddened, because I’m quite looking forward to seeing him play but I’ve got to say this: this decision makes a complete mockery of everything the laws of cricket stand for.
“It was handed down less than an hour ago by Michael Heron, the QC from New Zealand, and for the life of me I can’t understand his logic."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan had a different line of thinking, impressed with the ICC's decision to let Rabada play as ''common sense'' prevailed''.
Well done ICC .. Common sense prevails .. #Rabada
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 20, 2018
In a statement released by the ICC, the judicial commissioner said:
"The key issue is whether Mr Rabada made ‘inappropriate and deliberate physical contact’ with Mr Smith. I am not ‘comfortably satisfied’ that Mr Rabada intended to make contact and I therefore find him not guilty of the charge under 2.2.7," Heron said.
Craddock disagreed with the judicial commissioner's findings.
“Sorry, but that was deliberate contact. He had done it before and had five offences in 14 months,” he said.
The verdict divided several experts who took to social media to share their view on the overturned decision.
Rabada finished with match figures of 11/150 in the second Test and was a key figure in South Africa's series fightback after they went down in the first outing.
His presence will be felt for the rest of the series, but many believe he shouldn't even be on the pitch.
Wow...didnt see that coming - just like Steve Smith didn’t expect the shoulder - World’s best bowler @OfficialCSA Kagiso Rabada cleared to play 3rd test v @CricketAus
— Chris Warren (@ChrisWarreNRL) March 20, 2018
ICC whinge and bellyache about sledging and on-field contact and then go weak at the knees in overturning Rabada ban. Open slather now.
— Dean Ritchie (@BulldogRitchie) March 20, 2018
Wow, Rabada's ban is overturned! Just one demerit point and a 25% fine. Things change rapidly in our world
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 20, 2018
The decision to allow Rabada to play will only add more spark to what has been a fiery series after the David Warner and Quinton de Kock incident which marred the first Test.
The third Test will begin on Thursday, March 22 in Cape Town at 7pm (AET).
