Test ends in a damp squib
UMPIRES CALL OFF KINGSMEAD CLASH AFTER OUTFIELD REMAINS SOGGY
What should have been a top-class contest between South Africa and New Zealand in the first Test was abandoned as a meaningless draw at Kingsmead in Durban yesterday as the umpires called off play for the third successive day due to a soft outfield.
A couple of patches of bare ground that had retained a bit of moisture were once again foremost in the minds of umpires Ian Gould and Richard Illingworth and Kingsmead was left a picture of abject disappointment on a bright sunny day.
Both teams made a point of emphasising that they had been willing to play even though the game died shortly before lunch on the second day when New Zealand were 15/2 in reply to South Africa’s 263 all out.
“Obviously both teams are extremely disappointed because we were dying to get out there. The rain on the second night was the big problem and then it’s up to the umpires,” Proteas captain Faf du Plessis said after the end of the Test was announced.
“We wanted to play, but the modern game allows the umpires to decide and their general feeling was that it was unsafe, especially for sprinting or sudden movements. It’s a difficult call because obviously the teams would be upset if someone suffers an injury, especially to one of your strike bowlers. But if we get told to play, we will do it.
“It’s one of the things cricket has to assess, that other sports carry on in damp conditions but as soon as cricket is a little unsafe, then the umpires are pretty strict. Player safety was their major concern, that’s the message we were getting,” he said.
“I want to make it very clear that both teams were very keen to play. We respect that the umpires are responsible for the ground though and from arrival in Durban we knew the outfield was in a pretty poor state and it just couldn’t cope with the rain,” Black Caps coach Mike Hesson said.
Du Plessis was delighted though that Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander did not waste the 12 overs they did get to bowl and showed that they are as fiery and as ever in their comeback Test.
“The bowlers were relentless, they hit excellent areas and there were no free runs. It just showed how important the experience of Dale and Vernon is, they gave the batsmen nothing to hit,” Du Plessis said.
The two sides now turn their attention to the second and last Test in Centurion which starts on Saturday.