Dubai, January 30
ICC today expectedly rated the Wanderers pitch used for the third Test between India and South Africa as ‘poor’ and received three demerit points in the process. India came back from behind to win the Test by 63 runs as 40 wickets fell for 805 runs in almost 296 overs.
However the 22-yard strip was the focus of attention as a number of batsmen from both the sides received blows due to “steep unpredictable bounce and excessive seam movement”. The play was in fact stopped by the on-field umpires on the third day as they found it dangerous to continue when Jasprit Bumrah’s bouncer struck Dean Elgar’s helmet. “Andy Pycroft of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees has rated the Wanderers pitch as “poor” and, as such, according to the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, it has received three demerit points,” ICC stated in a media release.
As per the norms, one demerit point is awarded to venues whose pitches are rated by the match referees as “below average”, while three and five demerit points respectively are awarded to surfaces marked as “poor” and “unfit”, respectively.
De Villiers ruled out of first three ODIs
Free-scoring batsman AB de Villiers has been ruled out of the first three ODIs against India through injury. De Villiers bruised an index finger attempting to take a catch in the 63-run defeat in the third Test against the tourists in Johannesburg. He will need at least two weeks for a full recovery, ruling him out of the ODIs in Durban, Pretoria and Cape Town, starting on Thursday. The South Africa selectors have not named a replacement, hoping he will be fit in time for the fourth match in the six-game series in Johannesburg on February 10. — Reuters
http://ift.tt/2E1ma0J
Comments
Post a Comment