ICC reprimands SA coach Prince, Verreynne for Cape Town DRS row
Synopsis
South Africa's batting coach Ashwell Prince and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne have been reprimanded by the ICC for dissent at an umpire's decision during the Cape Town Test — an incident sparked by a disputed DRS review window. The sanctions arrive just as South Africa climbed to No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings after a 2-1 series win over Australia.
Key Takeaways
Ashwell Prince and Kyle Verreynne have been officially reprimanded by the ICC for a Level 1 Code of Conduct breach during Day 3 of the Cape Town Test .
The incident stemmed from opener Marques Ackerman's failed DRS review, which was ruled outside the prescribed 15-second window.
Both were found in breach of Article 2.8 — showing dissent at an umpire's decision — and each received one demerit point , their first offence in a 24-month period.
Match referee Javagal Srinath oversaw the proceedings; both players accepted sanctions, avoiding a formal hearing.
South Africa won the series 2-1 and rose to No.
1 in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings , pushing Australia down to No.
3 in the WTC standings.
South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne have been officially reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during Day 3 of the third Test between South Africa and Australia at Cape Town. Both were found guilty under the same incident involving opener Marques Ackerman's failed DRS review attempt in South Africa's second innings.
What Triggered the Incident
The flashpoint came when Ackerman attempted to call for a review of a caught dismissal, but the on-field umpires ruled that the appeal was not lodged within the mandatory 15-second window, rendering the review invalid. As Ackerman began walking towards the boundary, Prince repeatedly shouted at the umpires, insisting there had been enough time remaining for the review. Simultaneously, Verreynne — who was not part of the playing eleven — asked Ackerman to stay inside the boundary line, causing a delay in the batter leaving the field.
The ICC's Ruling
The ICC confirmed that both Prince and Verreynne were found to have breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which covers 'showing dissent at an umpire's decision during an international match.' The ICC stated: 'One demerit point has been added to each of their disciplinary records, as these were their first offences in a 24-month period.'
Both individuals admitted their offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Javagal Srinath of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, making a formal hearing unnecessary. On-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough, along with third umpire Chris Gaffaney and fourth umpire Lubabalo Gcuma, levelled the charges.
Sanctions Under Level 1
A Level 1 breach under ICC regulations carries a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, along with one or two demerit points. Since neither Prince nor Verreynne had prior offences within the preceding 24 months, each received a single demerit point alongside the formal reprimand.
Context: South Africa's Historic Series Win
The disciplinary action came against the backdrop of a memorable series result. South Africa staged a stunning fightback on Day 4, backed by a hostile bowling display on the final day in Cape Town, to clinch a 2-1 series victory over Australia. The win had significant ramifications beyond the series itself — it propelled South Africa past Australia to claim the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings, while Australia dropped to No. 3 in the ICC World Test Championship 2025/27 standings. Notably, this Cape Town result now ranks among the more consequential Test outcomes of the current WTC cycle.
Point of View
But the underlying incident points to a structural tension in Test cricket: the 15-second DRS window is notoriously difficult to enforce consistently at pace, and coaching staff frustration in high-pressure moments is almost inevitable. What is striking is that Verreynne — not even in the playing eleven — crossed the boundary line metaphorically and literally, compounding a minor dispute into a disciplinary record entry. South Africa may have won the series, but the ICC's swift action underscores that the spirit-of-cricket framing the board has cultivated is a two-way obligation. One demerit point is a slap on the wrist; a pattern of similar incidents could become a real liability as the WTC final window approaches.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Ashwell Prince and Kyle Verreynne reprimanded by the ICC?
Both were reprimanded for showing dissent at an umpire's decision during the Cape Town Test against Australia. Prince shouted repeatedly at umpires over a disputed DRS review window, while Verreynne caused a delay by asking the dismissed batter to stay inside the boundary line.
What is an ICC Level 1 Code of Conduct breach?
A Level 1 breach is the least severe category under the ICC Code of Conduct, covering offences such as showing dissent at umpiring decisions. It carries a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, plus one or two demerit points.
How many demerit points did Prince and Verreynne receive?
Each received one demerit point, added to their disciplinary records. As these were their first offences within a 24-month period, they were handed the minimum sanction — a formal reprimand alongside the single demerit point.
Who was the match referee for the Cape Town Test?
Javagal Srinath of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees served as match referee. Both Prince and Verreynne accepted his proposed sanctions, so no formal hearing was required.
What was the outcome of the South Africa vs Australia Test series?
South Africa won the series 2-1, with a fightback on Day 4 and a dominant bowling display on the final day in Cape Town sealing the result. The victory lifted South Africa to No. 1 in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings and dropped Australia to No. 3 in the ICC World Test Championship 2025/27 standings.
