Johannesburg: Further play in the third Test between South Africa and India was in the hands of the match officials on Friday after play was called off shortly before the scheduled close on the third day at the Wanderers.

Umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould, in consultation with match referee Andy Pycroft, took the players off the field after South African opener Dean Elgar was hit on the grille of his helmet by a short ball from India’s Jasprit Bumrah.

There had been several discussions between the umpires earlier in the day because of unusual bounce and deviation on a pitch which former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar had earlier described as “dangerous”.

Both captains were called into a meeting with Pycroft and the umpires in accordance with International Cricket Council regulations.

Indian manager Sunil Subramanian made it clear that India wanted play to resume on Saturday.

India were in a strong position with South Africa 17 for one after being set to make 241 to win.

Both managers had been called to a meeting with Pycroft during the tea interval. “We were told that if the conditions were unfit for play, both captains would be consulted,” said Subramanian. 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.

India seize control

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.

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.

Agence France-Presse