India tour of South Africa, 2018

Creag

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Test match set to resume after uneven-bounce deliberations

The Wanderers Test will continue as scheduled on day four. There was uncertainty over the future of the match when umpires took the players off 19 minutes before scheduled stumps on day three because of concerns over their safety on a spicy pitch. The pitch has had exaggerated bounce and seam right from the start of the match, but on day three various batsmen copped blows to their bodies against balls kicking up off a good length.

The ball that finally prompted the umpires to halt play was one from Jasprit Bumrah that hit Dean Elgar in the grille of the helmet. The two captains then met the match referee. India made it clear they wanted to continue playing, and South Africa didn't express a preference either way but said they would continue playing if the match referee deemed the pitch safe to play on.

The match officials first had a conversation regarding the pitch with the teams during the tea break on day three, when it was expressed to the two managers that the new ball could behave dangerously. The decision to take players off was the umpires'. The match referee was then briefed, and he consulted both the captains.

The protocol is to continue only if both the captains agree to play on. If the decision is not to play, then it is seen if the pitch can be repaired without - in the view of the match referee - disadvantaging any side. There will be no repairs on this pitch except for the customary light roller at the start of the day's play. A light roller was used on the pitch on day three too.

The ICC later sent out a statement confirming an on-time start on day four:

"The on-field umpires, in consultation with the match referee, and after speaking with both the captains and groundsmen, have decided that the Johannesburg Test will resume on time on Saturday. The on-field umpires will continue to monitor the pitch, and consult the match referee should the pitch deteriorate further. The welfare of the players is paramount and two of the most experienced match officials are in charge of the game and will take appropriate decisions.

"Play on Friday was suspended shortly before scheduled close because the on-field umpires wanted to consult the match referee regarding the condition of the pitch."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22224475/test-match-resume-uneven-bounce-deliberations
 

stepper

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It was with the prospect of the test match being called off (which thankfully is not gonna happen) that they started all kinds of conspiracies and throwing insults towards the SA players and the CSA.
 

stepper

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Good the match continues...but I have a sneaky suspicion that our overlords made a 'threat' possibly a complete tour walkout
 

Creag

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It was with the prospect of the test match being called off (which thankfully is not gonna happen) that they started all kinds of conspiracies and throwing insults towards the SA players and the CSA.

Ah. Common sense from their pov. However, if their Prima Donna got injured, they wouldn't bother to be incensed. They would just drop one their nukes on us.
 

Creag

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Good the match continues...but I a sneaky suspicion that our overlords made a 'threat' possibly a complete tour walkout

Money talks. CSA needs it. Wouldn't be [-]awesome[/-] [-]laughable[/-] nice if someone our lads were able to chase the target successfully?
 

stepper

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Money talks. CSA needs it. Wouldn't be [-]awesome[/-] [-]laughable[/-] nice if someone our lads were able to chase the target successfully?


This post Lorgat CSA...they seem to really bend backwards for 'the board'
 

sand_man

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If the test were called off for a dangerous pitch, that would mean no Australian test for the Wanderers either. Would be disastrous for the Wanderers.
 

MickeyD

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If the test were called off for a dangerous pitch, that would mean no Australian test for the Wanderers either. Would be disastrous for the Wanderers.

Deservedly. Stop preparing sub-standard Test pitches. If the groundsman have never prepared a Test pitch before, get him some help a few months before the time.
 

3WA

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Boo to the Wanderers staff for preparing a rubbish pitch. This is a farce.
 

WaxLyrical

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That groundsman is in much ***. You don't fiddle with Indian cricket - you just don't.
 

sand_man

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Deservedly. Stop preparing sub-standard Test pitches. If the groundsman have never prepared a Test pitch before, get him some help a few months before the time.

Yeah, it's a stinker but marginal whether dangerous or not. Batsman today are a bunch of snowflakes. :eek: Wanderers, like the WACA, rewards good fast bowling. There a number of batsman that have managed to graft out 50's in this game and a number of tailenders with 30's, so apply yourselves and you can over come what is unquestionably a unique test of ones resolve.

Is it a sub-standard test pitch? Yeah, for sure but what's the definition of a good test pitch? One that offers a fair contest between bat and ball. Not always attainable but I think over the last couple of seasons we've seen, in general, a sport which benefits the batsman rather than the bowlers. I'm happy to see a pitch that favours the bowlers, for a change...

Boo to the Wanderers staff for preparing a rubbish pitch. This is a farce.

Personally, quite enjoying it. A 50 on this deck is like a 100 on any other and a 100 would be priceless!! This is a proper test for the batsman!
 

sand_man

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It's also quite interesting that the Indians seem to have managed the conditions better than we have. Who would have thought??!

Centurion was criticized for being too spin friendly and a pitch mirroring Indian conditions, yet we prevailed there.

Newlands was also considered borderline!!

So really, both teams have been presented with vastly differing challenges from ground to ground. I think it's been a great challenge and a tough tour for both sides.
 

BigAl-sa

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It's also quite interesting that the Indians seem to have managed the conditions better than we have. Who would have thought??!

Centurion was criticized for being too spin friendly and a pitch mirroring Indian conditions, yet we prevailed there.

Newlands was also considered borderline!!

So really, both teams have been presented with vastly differing challenges from ground to ground. I think it's been a great challenge and a tough tour for both sides.

I take my hat off to Kohli in this one. He decided to stick it out when he could have called it off - all the money must be with India for a win.
 

Neoprod

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I take my hat off to Kohli in this one. He decided to stick it out when he could have called it off - all the money must be with India for a win.

They were in charge of the game at that point...wouldn't make sense for them to give up on a chance of winning a test away from home (rare for India).
 

Arthur

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My own view is that far too much is being made of the pitch. It's not as if we're seeing a puff of dust with the bounce or they're playing on sand.

Some lovely strokes being played today. There's hope yet.
 
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