Proteas seamer Vernon Philander has implored umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney to ‘stand your ground’ and withdraw England fast bowler Jofra Archer from the attack on day three of the ongoing Test series opener at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Archer bowled two head-high full tosses at nightwatchman Anrich Nortje toward the end of play on day two. He was warned, but not formally sanctioned.

Host captain Faf du Plessis and head coach Mark Boucher, meanwhile, sought clarification from third umpire Kumar Dharmasena and match referee Andy Pycroft.

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‘If you’re at square-leg and you call no-ball you’ve got to stand your ground. At no time did they actually cancel it,’ said Philander.

‘For me it’s plain and simple: we’re playing a game and we’re setting an example for the rest of the people coming into this game. You’ve got to make the right call.

‘That’s why it’s called the purest format. Are we going to tolerate it at another game or are we going to put a stop to it right here? It’s in the hands of the umpires.

‘Don’t try silly things that can cost you bowling another ball in the innings. The umpires have to make a call and hopefully it’s the right one for the game looking forward.’

England batsman Joe Denly, who scored a half-century earlier in the day, defended the second full toss bowled by Archer.

‘I was at leg slip and I wasn’t expecting two beamers. The first one, fair enough. The second one just missed the stumps,’ added Denly.

‘I saw the umpire put his arm out and I think he tucked it in quite quickly. They withdrew that second no-ball.’

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