South Africa coach Ottis Gibson insists the Proteas are ready to continue playing after day three of the final Test with India came to a premature end following safety concerns when Deal Elgar was hit on the helmet.
Batsmen from both sides have struggled to cope with an increasingly treacherous Wanderers pitch, which has seen the quicks benefit from variable bounce, swing and sharp movement off the seam.
Umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar liaised on more than one occasion, and the situation came to a head when a fierce Jasprit Bumrah bouncer crashed into Elgar's grille, with the opener able to walk off unharmed as the on-field officials called stumps following consultation with match referee Andy Pycroft.
India, attempting to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash, were on top with South Africa 17-1 in the second innings and needing a further 224 to win.
And Gibson insists his team will go along with whatever decision is taken on Saturday morning.
"We are here to play cricket. We still want to play cricket," he said.
"The match referee's decision will be on player safety. If the match ref says play on, we are going to play once a decision is made, that's it.
"We prepare like we do every morning. Throughout the whole game on both sides, you saw batsmen wearing a few. India didn't complain and we didn't either.
"Dean got in hit in the face, he wasn't able to take evasive action. The match ref feels there is something there for him to look at. Once they make a decision, we will get on with it."
Gibson added that he did not think a decision should have been taken earlier in the day.
"When I spoke to [captain] Faf [du Plessis], at lunch, he came off and said 'a couple on the fingers'. If the ball is going to hit you on the fingers and the bowlers are bowling 140 and you haven't got time to respond and take evasive action, then the umpires will see it.
"But when it hits the face, you have to take action."
Comments
Follow Us
SHARE