England all-rounder Ben Stokes clarified his verbal volleys weren't directed at nightwatchman Anrich Nortje but umpire Bruce Oxenford to stay off the field, as part of a joke. This, while replying to a twitter user who felt he and the rest of his teammates should've been imposed demerit points by the ICC for allegedly "showing complete disrespect to Nortje after taking his wicket" on Day 3 of the ongoing Port Elizabeth Test. 

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The visitors, having posted a mammoth 499/9 (declared) in the first innings, are pushing for a victory in the game that will help it retain the Basil d'Oliveira trophy. And Nortje was threatening to jeopardise those plans with a defiant tailender's knock before it was finally ended by Stokes, who along with catcher Joe Root and other fielders was caught on camera having an animated conversation at the dismissal. 

This triggered a twitter user, who perhaps believes Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was unfairly banned for the next Test after accumulating his fourth demerit point in last two years on giving Root an angry send-off on Day 1 and that the English players should also be under scanner for their behaviour. 

"Just to clarify...this was to Bruce Oxenford to stay off the field as a joke, as the replacement umpire was on the field for 2 of our wickets whilst Bruce wasn’t on the field, nothing was aimed at Nortje what so ever, all clear," Stokes tweeted. 

After Stokes, pacer Jofra Archer also defended his team's actions. 

"Sorry, were you at the ground?" he asked this twitter user in reply.