Twitterati lash out at Jos Buttler for calling Vernon Philander 'f**king knobhead'

Jos Buttler hasn’t had the best of Test series against South Africa by any stretch of the imagination. In the opening Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, he ended with scores of 12 and 22. At the Newlands in Cape Town, the 29-year-old didn’t have the best of times either. In both the innings, the Somerset-born got starts with scores of 29 and 23, but couldn’t convert the starts.

The Three Lions ended up winning the second Test by 189 runs and also managed to draw level in the series. However, Butler didn’t have the most memorable times in the game. Apart from his failures with the bat in hand, he also got himself entangled into a controversy. The swashbuckling cricketer was heard, using cuss words for veteran fast bowler Vernon Philander.

Jos Buttler abuses Vernon Philander

On the last day, the Proteas needed 312 runs to win with eight wickets in hand. Though the Brits came out trumps, there were phases when the hosts got under the skin of the visitors. Pieter Malan, the debutant, put his head down, scoring 84 runs off 288 balls before Sam Curran dismissed him. Quinton de Kock also fought hard, getting 50 runs off 107 balls with seven fours.

Coming to Buttler, he lost his cool when Philander came to bat. From behind the wicket, Buttler called Philander a ‘f**king knobhead’. Later Dale Steyn, who retired from Test cricket a few months ago, wrote in a post on Twitter that it was ‘loud and clear’. Buttler was assumed to have done it in order to put pressure on Vernon, who stayed put in the middle for as many as 51 balls.

Philander was the last wicket to fall as Ben Stokes got rid of him in the 138th over. The Proteas veteran picked up two wickets in the first innings before going wicketless in the second. A few days ago, he announced his retirement from international cricket and will now be playing for Somerset.

In the meantime, Twitterati isn’t quite happy with Buttler’s gesture towards Vernon. The users on social media bashed the English wicketkeeper for the unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Here is how Twitterati reacted: –

Well, that was loud and clear. https://t.co/Mr7ZftfUUg

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) January 7, 2020

No problems with a bit of heated banter, but calling someone a "f&#@ing knobhead"? That's a school ground insult. You can be smarter than that @josbuttler 🤙 https://t.co/b0fVpYVAJb

— dieter lehmann. (@meDieterLehmann) January 8, 2020

Am I the only person who thinks Big Vern should go find Jos Buttler while he's out and about in Cape Town tonight to finish the conversation the 'keeper started earlier today?

— Simnikiwe Xabanisa (@simxabanisa) January 7, 2020

@josbuttler needs a mankading, @ashwinravi99 you busy?

— Douglas Saxby (@DougSaxby) January 8, 2020

Absolutely foul and disgusting. Such doesn’t belong in sports. @josbuttler Kids were watching – you have no filter – you’re the fucking knobhead.. https://t.co/nLfd6WSAzS

— Alex Phungo (@GenuineAlex) January 8, 2020

Jos Buttler's Test career thus far has been defined by two things.
1. Laughing after Steve Smith was hit by a bouncer.
2. Calling Vernon Philander a 'fucking knobhead'.

Now he needs to score some runs. pic.twitter.com/bd3yGC0gkq

— Mayukh Ghosh (@stock_delivery) January 8, 2020

Wow @josbuttler… Should be ashamed of yourself pal… You and David Warner must be the worst low breeds of all time #norespect #SAvENG https://t.co/Tos9gDPXY7

— Chris Brown (@ChrisBrown2912) January 8, 2020

Thought it was an awesome test. All 5-days. Especially the 5th day. Pity about the Jos Buttler vs Big Vern incident. If that is cricket then I am not a supporter.

— Rágnár Ván Töndérsön (@Slipcatch) January 8, 2020

Personal highlight of Jos Buttler calling Vernon Philander a fucking knobhead is Stokes chuckling at slip, probably because he's never heard Buttler swear. https://t.co/p7i7ddztjP

— James Gray (@jamestingray) January 7, 2020

Jos Buttler w/k batsman averaging 30

Vern the bowling all rounder averaging 25

Shut up ya doos

— Bilal 🇿🇦 (@billz_25) January 7, 2020