Play to start on schedule on Saturday at Wanderers

The ICC and match officials have confirmed that the third Test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers stadium will start as scheduled at 10am on Saturday.

Play was suspended shortly before the scheduled close of play on Friday.

The ICC issued the following statement: “The on-field umpires (Aleem Dar and Ian Gould) in consultation with the match referee, and after speaking with both captains and groundsmen, have decided that the Johannesburg Test will resume on time on Saturday. The on-field umpires will continue to monitor the pitch and consult with the match referee should the pitch deteriorate further. The welfare of the players is paramount and two of the most experienced match officials are in charge of the game and will take appropriate decisions. Play on Friday was suspended shortly before the scheduled close because the on-field umpires wanted to consult the match referee regarding the condition of the pitch.”

Proteas head coach, Ottis Gibson, insists his players remain determined to play and will fight it out for what could be a memorable victory. The Proteas are faced with an uphill battle, and need a further 224 runs with nine wickets in hand for a 3-0 series whitewash.

“We are here to play cricket,” Gibson said after the day’s play on Friday. “We still want to play cricket. The match referee’s decision will be based around player safety, they won’t call it off if they don’t think it is safe. If the match referee comes tomorrow and says ‘game on’ then we are going to play.

“Once the decision is made that is it, we will prepare like we do every morning and we will go out and play,” he said.

“The batsmen will try and do their best to bat us to victory. Throughout the whole game on both sides, you saw batsmen wearing a few on the body. India didn’t complain and we are not complaining either.”

Dean Elgar (11) and Hashim Amla (2) will resume the Proteas’ innings on 17/1 on Saturday.