After deliberations between the umpires, captains and the match referee it was annnounced that play would start on time at the Wanderers on Satutrday, after action was called off before scheduled close on Friday due to concerns over uneven bounce.
Play was called off on Friday after South African batsman Dean Elgar was hit on the grille of his helmet by a short ball from India’s Jasprit Bumrah.
Umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould had held talks earlier in the day because of unusual bounce and deviation on a pitch which former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar described as “dangerous”.
After Elgar was struck late in the afternoon, match referee Andy Pycroft joined the umpires on the field and the third day of the third and final Test was halted.
South Africa, set 241 to win, were 17 for one.
Both captains were called into a meeting with Pycroft in accordance with International Cricket Council regulations.
The procedure is that umpires can call off play when they consider conditions to be dangerous. The umpires and match referee then consult the captains.
Play can resume if the captains agree. If not, the umpires and match referee have to decide whether it is possible to effect repairs to the pitch so that play can resume.
If not the match can be abandoned.
Only two Test matches have previously been abandoned because of dangerous conditions.
In January 1998, England were 17 for three against the West Indies at Sabina Park in Jamaica when the umpires stopped play because of a dangerous pitch.
In February 2009, a match between the same two teams in Antigua was called off after ten balls because a soft outfield was regarded as dangerous for bowlers and fielders.
Former international players in the TV commentary box were critical of the pitch.
“It’s almost an accident waiting to happen,” said ex-South African captain Kepler Wessels.
Former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding recalled the 1998 Jamaica Test.
“That was a total fiasco, this isn’t far off,” he said.
Laws pertaining to the pitch
- 6.4.1 If the on-field umpires decide that it is dangerous or unreasonable for play to continue on the match pitch, they shall stop play and immediately advise the ICC Match Referee.6.4.2 The on-field umpires and the ICC Match Referee shall then consult with both captains.6.4.3 If the captains agree to continue, play shall resume.6.4.4 If the decision is not to resume play, the on-field umpires together with the ICC Match Referee shall consider whether the existing pitch can be repaired and the match resumed from the point it was stopped. In considering whether to authorise such repairs, the ICC Match Referee must consider whether this would place either side at an unfair advantage, given the play that had already taken place on the dangerous pitch.6.4.5 If the decision is that the existing pitch cannot be repaired, then the match is to be abandoned as a draw.
With inputs from AFP
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