Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town – A leading English newspaper has called for disciplinary action against New Zealand 12th man Kyle Mills after Proteas batsman Faf du Plessis copped Kiwi abuse following his role in the run-out of team-mate AB de Villiers in the World Cup quarter-final at Mirpur.
Video: Mills taunts Faf du Plessis
Video: Smith faces the press
Gallery: Proteas crash out
Writing in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday after the Black Caps’ upset triumph, Simon Briggs said: “For all New Zealand’s excellence in the field, there was also an ugly side to their display.
“Immediately after De Villiers’s dismissal, their 12th man Kyle Mills brought out the drinks and began sledging Francois du Plessis, whose ill-advised call had led to the wicket.
“Du Plessis then shoved Mills in return, and was surrounded by a pack of angry New Zealanders, who could clearly be seen swearing at him.
“It is easy to see why Mills and company wanted to remind Du Plessis of his error, as he was South Africa’s last specialist batsman, and they hoped to put him off his game.
“But their foul-mouthed, intimidatory huddle was the type of thing you see more often in football than cricket. The ICC should discipline Mills for his needless intervention.”
Kiwis try to intimidate Faf du Plessis (Gallo Images)
Cape Town – A leading English newspaper has called for disciplinary action against New Zealand 12th man Kyle Mills after Proteas batsman Faf du Plessis copped Kiwi abuse following his role in the run-out of team-mate AB de Villiers in the World Cup quarter-final at Mirpur.
Video: Mills taunts Faf du Plessis
Video: Smith faces the press
Gallery: Proteas crash out
Writing in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday after the Black Caps’ upset triumph, Simon Briggs said: “For all New Zealand’s excellence in the field, there was also an ugly side to their display.
“Immediately after De Villiers’s dismissal, their 12th man Kyle Mills brought out the drinks and began sledging Francois du Plessis, whose ill-advised call had led to the wicket.
“Du Plessis then shoved Mills in return, and was surrounded by a pack of angry New Zealanders, who could clearly be seen swearing at him.
“It is easy to see why Mills and company wanted to remind Du Plessis of his error, as he was South Africa’s last specialist batsman, and they hoped to put him off his game.
“But their foul-mouthed, intimidatory huddle was the type of thing you see more often in football than cricket. The ICC should discipline Mills for his needless intervention.”
Kiwis try to intimidate Faf du Plessis (Gallo Images)