SA vs IND 2018: Play should have been called off due to state of pitch, says Elgar

India won the third Test at the Wanderers.

Elgar batted throught the second innings for SA. (Getty)

South African opener Dean Elgar took body blows all throughout his unbeaten innings in the second innings at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. 

When Elgar was hit flush in the grill by a Jasprit Bumrah bouncer late in the day, umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar led the players off the field. The remainder of the day's play was called off while the officials consulted with the two captains before the ICC later confirmed that the match would resume as usual on the fourth morning. India went on to win the match by 63 runs but Elgar, who returned to the crease and carried his bat as he finished unbeaten on 86, felt it could have been called off.

"I know that people want to watch Test cricket the whole day, but we're also human beings. We're not just machines, we're not just going to take blows and accept putting our bodies on the line. It was unfortunate that it had to go into that depth, but I do think the game or the situation of the pitch could have been addressed sooner."

"I had already been peppered three or four times before that. I know what was spoken throughout the day and I know they had a feeling of this wicket not being the greatest. It was extremely freak. I've faced many fast bowlers before and I know the Wanderers wicket has that steep bounce, but I have never experienced it like that," he said.

"I can't think I would have played it any better because if it was that short on a wicket with bounce, it would have gone way over my head and at least given me some time to get out of the way. It's a freak moment and thankfully the umpires had sanity about the incident" concluded Elgar. 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 28 Jan, 2018

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