“I should not have reacted in that way”: Ben Stokes was once fined 15% of match fees for abusing a spectator in South Africa

English test captain Ben Stokes had his fair share of successes and failures throughout his career. The flamboyant English all-rounder has achieved some achievements in his career, but he has been a part of some cruel events as well.

In the 2016 T20 World Cup final, he bowled the infamous final over, where Carlos Brathwaite smashed him for continuous sixes to seal the title for West Indies. He missed the 2014 World Cup in Bangladesh as well after fracturing his hand while punching in the changing room.

Stokes has been involved in quite a few controversial moments as well. He was involved in a bar fight as well in Bristol along with Alex Hales. He is quite aggressive on the field as well and has been fined for the same in the past.

Ben Stokes was once fined 15% of match fees for abusing a spectator

England toured South Africa for a 4-match test series in 2019-20, and Ben Stokes was engaged in yet another controversy during the series. The 4th match of the series was played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, where Stokes could perform well on a good batting track and got out for just a couple of runs.

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While going towards the pavilion, Stokes had a verbal spat with a spectator and his verbal dual was heard live on the television. He was clearly using foul language, and he was penalized for the same as well. He was fined 15% of his match fee and given one demerit point for breaching the level 1 offense of “use of an audible obscenity”.

Stokes expected the charges and also apologized for the same. He said that many of the younger audience also watch the match, and it certainly does not give the right impression about the game. Stokes insisted that he should not have reacted in the same way.

“I wish to apologize for the language that was heard on the live broadcast today after my dismissal. I should not have reacted in that way,” said Stokes.

“As I was leaving the playing area, I was subjected to repeated abuse from the crowd.”

Ashley Giles, Managing Director for England Men’s Cricket said the crowds were continuously abusing the English players, and Stokes was not just the only one. Giles insisted Stokes should not have behaved in that way, but the crowd was also quite hostile.