Jos Buttler set to be fined for calling Vernon Philander a ‘f****** k***head’ during South Africa vs England Test

England wicketkeeper was overheard verbally abusing the South African on the stump microphone

Jos Buttler is set to be fined for his foul-mouthed outburst at South Africa’s Vernon Philander after it was picked up by the stump microphone and broadcast live on television.

The England wicketkeeper took exception to Philander apparently blocking his view in catching the ball as the visitors chased down victory on the second Test at Newlands.

As Philander stood waiting for the next delivery in his crease, Buttler berated him from behind the wicket and appeared to call the South African pace bowler a “f****** k***head”.

The International Cricket Council is set to take action against the 29-year-old as a result, with his punishment expected to include at least a fine of his match fee and a demerit point for a level one breach of the ICC’s Code of Conduct.

The incident came with England still needing three wickets to clinch victory in Cape Town with time running out on the fifth and final day, with tensions boiling over as the ball was returned to Buttler from the field.

Aggressively berating Philander, Buttler was overheard saying: “F****** move. No one is going to f****** give it to you, just move. F****** k***head! Get past that f****** gut.”

The foul language was heard on the live broadcast coverage beamed around the world, which triggered an immediate apology from Sky Sports commentator and former England captain Michael Atherton. It was not the first time in the final innings that players on both sides were told to ease off the level of sledging being deployed as James Anderson and Faf du Plessis clashed earlier in the day when the England bowler appeared to get in the way of the South African captain.

The ICC deems sledging to be unsportsmanlike but it largely goes under the radar, with the governing body only stepping in in extreme cases.

The incident was played down by England captain Joe Root, who believes the high-running emotions as the game neared a climax led to the verbal clash.

“I don’t think it was anything serious,” Root said. “It was just two guys playing hard Test cricket.

“Emotions were running quite high and I don’t think anyone overstepped the mark. You want a bit of spice on the TV anyway, don’t you?”

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen also offered his thoughts on sledging, with the Sky Sports pundit claiming that umpire Kumar Dharmasena was wrong to give Anderson, Du Plessis and Stuart Broad a ticking off for their clash during the opening session.