Cricket fans all over the world were in for a big surprise on Sunday, as the first Test match between Australia and South Africa in Brisbane was called off after only two days of play.
The Proteas lost 19 wickets on the second day of the match, which resulted in the Australians recording a victory by six wickets over them. The match was played on a green field that provided both sides’ pace attacks with a lot of bounce and movement.
In total, 34 wickets were lost over the course of two days, prompting Elgar to inquire with the umpires about the surface’s suitability for play as Australia inched closer and closer to victory.
He responded by saying, “I did ask the umpires how long it goes on for before it becomes essentially unsafe.” “At this point, the decision is left up to the judgement of the umpires; it is not up to us players,”
The characteristics of the surface in Brisbane was also called into question by the former India opening batsman Virender Sehwag.
“After 142 overs and a match that didn’t even go for two days, they still have the nerve to lecture about what kinds of pitches should be used.
If it had occurred in India, people would have referred to it as the end of test cricket, how it ruined test cricket, and other such phrases. The level of hypocrisy is beyond comprehension “he stated on his Twitter account.
Elgar, the captain of South Africa’s cricket team, argued that pitches like the one produced at the Gabba don’t help the game’s cause of gaining popularity throughout the world, which is now in a downward trend.
Elgar advised, “You’ve got to ask yourself if that’s a decent advertisement for this format.”
Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia, admitted that the wicket was challenging but emphasised that it was equally challenging for both teams.
He stated, “It was obviously difficult, and two days is maybe not the optimal amount of time.” There was a lot of movement in the horizontal plane, and there was also some oscillation in the vertical plane today.