The pitch at the Wanderers is under some heavy criticism after is showed it nasty side on day 3 of play. From the Indian batsmen taking grim blows due to the weirdness of the ‘dangerous’ pitch to the South African batsmen being hit badly, this pitch has turned into a deadly track.
The pitch turned so dangerous towards the end of the third day’s play that play had to be called off after a ball shooted up from nowhere to hit Dean Elgar on his helmet. Play being called off when India was in a great position made the Indian captain wrathful but he could not do much about it.
The pitch is being criticised by the entire cricket fraternity including Sunil Gavaskar and Shaun Pollock. The pitch has behaved very dangerously leaving most batsmen from either side with some nasty blows that must be hurting badly.
Indians have bounced right into the game and have given South Africa a stiff target of 241 to chase. For India, the vice-captain, Ajinkya Rahane top-scored with a very vital knock of 48 and the captain chipped in with a knock of 41.
INDIAN TEAM WINS APPRECIATION, PITCH WINS CRITICISM
Bhuvi has been winning high accolades for his clinical performances with the bat and while India’s Premier all-rounder, Hardik Pandya has been failing with the bat, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is making up for it. Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a knock of 33 which mattered so much to the team.
Now South Africa needs 241 to win and Mohammad Shami had already sent back Ed Markram back to the hut before the play was called off. India has the upper hand in the game and this compromise of play on day 3 would have made the Indian captain really frustrated.
PLAY BEING CALLED OFF HAS MADE TWITTER REACTED PROACTIVELY
Here is how Twitter responded with anger after play was called off
So what’s the difference of this pitch than earlier today? Sunny G is right. If the umpires were going to call it off, then it should have been done earlier…. but India battled through it. Now SA should have to do the same.. sadly Elgar didn’t play it well.
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) January 26, 2018
This pitch is ridic #SAvIND
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) January 26, 2018
Amazing skills from Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar , truly Dabangg. The resolve and determination will make every cricket lover proud, even though SA have been sloppy
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 26, 2018
If the players are to be called off now due to the pitch being dangerous,why did the Indian batting get to bat all day on it & face the heat? #SAvIND
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) January 26, 2018
Ok… now I am hiding behind the chair watching this match. If it’s too dangerous to play… then India should win the game.. the pitch is the responsibility of the Home Team!
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) January 26, 2018
The #Wanderers pitch belongs to South African management. If their team walks off now, it would be more insulting for them than even a Test defeat. If the Indian lower order could grit it out, so can South Africa #IndvSA
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) January 26, 2018
For this match to be called off, there will need to be proof of deterioration beyond what was acceptable when India were batting. I have little doubt that play will resume with no repairs to the pitch.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 26, 2018
I know they are 2-0 down & have made a few mistakes in this series but hats off to Virat & his boys that they want to continue playing on this pitch in the hope of making it 2-1????
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) January 26, 2018
Brilliant from Michael Holding: “The umpires keep looking at the pitch. Perhaps they think the pitch will be scared of them…” Before Sony cut to ads
— Mohammad Isam (@Isam84) January 26, 2018
Just returned from our concert in Ahmedabad to learn that the Ind vs SA test has been called off..!
Didn’t India bat twice on this pitch with SA pacers peppering them with short deliveries? .. And suddenly now it’s dangerous..???? #saywhat— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 26, 2018
On a treacherous pitch,@imVkohli has batted like a dada
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 26, 2018
Mandela spent 27 years in prison to get SA Freedom , I am sure SA can stay on this pitch for just a day as it is the #FreedomSeries
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) January 26, 2018
