Ben Stokes escapes ban but receives fine for abusing fan in fourth South Africa Test

Ben Stokes has escaped a ban for his reactionary volley of abuse at a fan at the Bullring.

Stokes has been hit with a single demerit point and a 15 percent match fee fine worth around £2,250 for using an 'audible obscenity in an international match.'

Match referee Andy Pycroft deemed the outburst to be worthy of a level one offence in the ICC code of conduct, in which Stokes was heard to say to the abusive fan: “Come and say that to me outside the ground you f****** four-eyed c***.”

He could have been hit with 'bringing the game into disrepute' but his swift public apology after it happened, plus the obvious provocation in which he was abused about his likeness to Ed Sheeran was enough for Pycroft to decide not to take the matter any further.

(Sky Sports)

Stokes pleaded guilty to the charge and accepted the sanction which means he now has just the single demerit point on his record that has been clean for the past two years.

The England all rounder was called into see the match referee ahead of the second morning at the Wanderers with his side waiting to resume on 192-4.

But although his issue was dealt with swiftly and amicably, England's request for a greater security and stewarding presence near the players tunnel and dugout was given short shrift by the venue.

Managing director of cricket Ashley Giles was concerned at the abuse dished out to Stokes as well as other members of his backroom staff, but the venue have stuck two fingers up to his request.

Venue operations spokesman Reuben Niekerk said: “The stadium is not aware of this request and we also feel that the currently deployed security numbers is sufficient.

Stokes was dismissed for two prior to the incident (Getty Images)

“Throwing additional numbers to a problem is not the solution. We have again reiterated to the field of play security to be more proactive in identifying spectators comments when players are in and around their respective areas.

“In addition to this, the England Team Security consisting of two guys have agreed to ensure that at any given time at least one of them will be down at the tunnel entrance from the field to closely monitor any comments from the spectators.”