Test match to resume on Day 4, India-South Africa spar about delivery that hit Dean Elgar

In two contrasting press conferences, which were a clear give away of the thought process of India and South Africa at the end of day 3 of the third test match in Wanderers, both teams gave starkly different opinions about the pitch and the nature of the ball which snared Dean Elgar.

Elgar was hit on the helmet from a short ball from Bumrah leading to umpires halting the match temporarily and later calling off day's play. According to latest report, match referee had a word with both the captains and decision has been taken, that day 4 will commence on scheduled time tomorrow.

 Indian team management on Friday maintained that while the pitch is challenging, but there is no devil in it and certainly can't be called as 'dangerous', Proteas have a clearly different thought process. South African management clearly believes that it is too dangerous out there.

However both teams affirmed that they would abide by ICC's decision. South African manager also claimed that Dean Elgar was hit by a ball pitched from the good length and not from short-length as the case it is. 

South African manager said, " I'm not sure you are watching the game. The ball that hit Elgar spat from a good length.  Nobody has made a direct statement to the direct condition of the pitch. The minute it goes to the head, that's why the umpires decided to consult with the referee".

Defending South African team's demand for a fast pitch, manager said that they they wanted a pitch like Centurion here, but didn't get it. Further weighing on the Elgar incident, manager said, " Dean was not expecting the ball to take off from 8m and hit him in the face. There are four umpires here and a match referee. Player safety is paramount".

South African coach Otis Gibson too toed the same line and harped about how players security is paramount. He said that according to Faf du Plessis it is unfair if ball takes off from length. He said that South Africa is eager to play but match referee will take decision keeping in mind player's safety concerns. 

Making clear India's stand, team manager Sunil Subramanian today said the Wanderers wicket was prepared by South Africa and not by them so the hosts must be prepared to resume the game, which was halted on the third day owing to dangerous playing conditions.

ICC takes note: 

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. (1/3)

— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) January 26, 2018

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 (2/3)

— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) January 26, 2018

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. (3/3)

— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) January 26, 2018

Revealing what transpired during the day Subramanian said,"The match referee (Andy Pycroft) called me during tea time and said just in case if the wicket were to get dangerous (unfit for play) then captains would be consulted to take the game forward." "We held the view that the wicket has been the same for both teams for all three days. And today is the day when the least wickets fell and the strike rates were the highest. We'd like to continue to play," he added.

When asked if the match referee had deemed the pitch too dangerous to play, the manager replied in the negative. "No. He said in case if the new ball were to be taken and the new ball was around 25 overs away at that time  it might behave dangerously. Play was called off because of the ball that hit Dean Elgar on the helmet. Subsequently the captains were called. Both captains, the match referee and the umpires had a meeting. Play was called off because of that delivery (to Elgar)," he said.

Elgar was hit three times, twice by Bumrah in one over before play was suspended. The ball that hit him on the helmet was actually a short ball and not a length ball that just reared off.
"That's the view we held too. There has been exaggerated bounce on this wicket but the ball to Elgar was not the one that cut alarmingly. This is what has been happening the last three days. So there was nothing new," Subramanian said.

"Umpires are the final judges on the fitness of the ground. Regardless of the captain's views, they take the final call. Of course both the captains will come forward with their views but the final decision lies with the umpires," he added. 

Play was stopped late in the final session with South Africa placed 17 for one in their 241-chase.

With PTI inputs