Deadly pitch stops play

Johannesburg: The third day's play between India and South Africa at the Wanderers was called off because of 'dangerous' pitch conditions. South African batsmen Dean Elgar was hit thrice during the duration of the play but the last hit which he took on the grille of his helmet by a short ball by Jasprit Bumrah forced the umpires to take the players off the field.

Umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould had consulted earlier 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 by a sharply lifting delivery from India's Jasprit Bumrah, 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.

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 hazardous pitch.

And a match between the same two teams in Antigua in February 2009 was called off after 10 balls because a soft outfield was regarded as dangerous for bowlers and fielders.
Indian captain Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane had set an attacking example as India took control of the match, scoring 247 in their second innings.

Umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould called off play after they were joined on the field by match referee Andy Pycroft.

The captains and match officials met after the stoppage and the only official word was that play had been called off for the day.

There had been suggestions during the day that play might be halted because of a dangerous pitch.

But with India having completed their innings any decision to abandon the match was always likely to be controversial.

It became clear that demons remained in the pitch when Mohammed Shami had Aiden Markram caught behind in the second over and Bhuvneshwar Kumar hit Elgar with a painful blow on the right hand in the next over.

The delivery which dismissed Markram lifted and seamed away, while the ball which struck Elgar lifted sharply off a good length.

The pitch was the subject of intense discussions by the umpires and a meeting in match referee Pycroft's office, attended by groundsman Bethuel Buthelezi and local officials, during the lunch break, when India were 100 for four.

There were areas on a good length on both ends of the pitch where the bounce was unpredictable.

Rabada, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel each took three wickets amid generally inconsistent bowling.