CENTURION: The start of the Test Series between India Vs South Africa got delayed due to wet outfield at the SuperSport Park, Centurion. India will take on South Africa on Thursday in the First Test match of the 3-Test series, however, wet weather delayed the start.
As per the reports, the washout of the first day is expected as the persistent rain for more than 24 hours resulted into the wet outfield. According to the weather forecasts, by evening, the skies are expected to clear with sun predicted for all of Friday.
SuperSport Park, the venue of first test match needs just 3-4 hours to dry completely. “It will take two to three hours after the rain stops before it will be completely dry,” Chief groundsman Hilbert Smit told reporters.
According to the reports, some work was being done on the outfield where ankle-deep puddles had collected at the boundary rope. The groundstaff were working on the wet outfield to make it suitable for playing. “We are cutting and rolling at the moment, and keeping an eye on the pitch,” Smit said.
SuperSport Park in CenturionIt’s going to be an important series for India and India will look forward to clinch the series with top order batsmen and bowlers in its kitty. This is also an opportunity for India to disprove the remarks and criticisms on their inability to thrive in pace friendly conditions.
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan/Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and S Sreesanth.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (c), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher (wk), Ryan McLaren, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
Umpires: SJ Davis and IJ Gould
TV umpire: S George
Match referee: AJ Pycroft
Reserve umpire: BG Jerling
