WATCH: Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock's heated exchange over DRS call during SA vs AUS 2nd ODI at Wanderers

WATCH: Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock's heated exchange over DRS call during SA vs AUS 2nd ODI at Wanderers originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock argued heatedly over a DRS call during the second ODI against Australia.

Bavuma overruled his keeper's doubts, and the review sent Xavier Bartlett back LBW for South Africa.

The clash recalled their 2021 T20 World Cup disagreement, though the pair are now working together again.

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WATCH: Tempers flare in Wanderers as Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock clash over DRS call

Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock got involved in a verbal spat during the second ODI against Australia at the Wanderers as the South African captain and his wicketkeeper argued over whether to review an LBW shout, and teammates had to step in to cool things down.

In the 48th over of Australia's innings, Lizaad Williams sent down a yorker to Xavier Bartlett, and it thudded into the batter's back leg. The umpire wasn't convinced and ruled it not out. At first glance, the ball seemed to be drifting down the leg side.

Yet Williams wanted a review, but De Kock, standing behind the stumps, didn't look keen on going upstairs. So Bavuma stepped in and asked for the review himself.

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Then things got tense, and words flew between captain and keeper, and other players rushed over to separate them. De Kock, clearly angry, walked away from the discussion.

However, replays told a different story. Bartlett had been hit in line, and the ball was going on to hit the stumps. The on-field call was overturned, and Bartlett had to go out LBW. De Kock had been proven wrong, and he knew it.

Miller and Bavuma power South Africa to series win over Australia

On the field in this series, though, things have gone South Africa's way. David Miller smashed a career-best 142, and Bavuma chipped in with 103 to add 156 for the fourth wicket. The partnership helped the hosts to post 365/9 on the board.

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Australia fought back in the chase but were bowled out for 333 with two balls left. That sealed the series, and it also handed South Africa a sixth straight bilateral ODI series win over Australia.

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Bavuma and De Kock shared a troubled history

This isn't the first time the two have found themselves on opposite sides. At the 2021 T20 World Cup, a major controversy rocked the Proteas camp.

De Kock pulled out of the match against the West Indies after refusing a last-minute order from Cricket South Africa, as the board wanted every player to take the knee in support of Black Lives Matter.

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Bavuma later said he was surprised by how the whole thing unfolded.

"We as a team were surprised and taken aback by the news," Bavuma said. "Quinton is a big player for the team, not only with the bat but also the role he plays from an experience point of view. Not having that at my disposal as a captain was obviously not something I was looking forward to. In saying that, Quinton is an adult. He's a man in his own shoes. We respect his decision; we respect his convictions."

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Bavuma was right, and the row shouldn't worry South Africa

Bavuma made the correct call, and a captain's job is to back the team's instincts, as Williams, the bowler, believed he had a case.

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Reviews are free gambles late in an innings, especially when a wicket could swing the contest. De Kock's doubt was understandable as keepers see the line better than most. But the final decision belongs to the skipper, and Bavuma owned it.

The argument itself was just passion. Two competitive players wanted the same thing and disagreed on how to get it. Nobody was hurt, and the DRS settled it within seconds. If anything, it shows Bavuma won't be second-guessed when it matters.

Still, the 2021 history makes this moment feel bigger than it is. Fans will connect the dots, and the media will too. Both men need to shut that noise down quickly, with a shared laugh or a simple word in public. South Africa's real focus should be the World Cup. A side that argues loudly but wins together is healthy.

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