Khaya Zondo Questions Umpire’s Decision To Keep The Play On Under Bad Lights

The Sydney test has come under scrutiny for one more time as the play keeps going on and off due to rain and bad light. South Africa batsman Khaya Zondo has criticised the decision of the umpires to keep the game on run when it was presumably dark.

Khaya Zondo questioned the umpire’s decision saying that the light wasn’t appropriate for play to continue. He also thought he had small nick of bat when he was given out of Pat Cummins’ inswinging delivery.

Khaya Zondo was stuck in front pad in the last session on Saturday with floodlights on when Cummins ran around the wicket and delivered a fantastic piece of bowling. Zondo had to work hard for his 39 after entering with South Africa 37 for 3.

Zondo did not immediately check the lbw when it was called on the field, but he did so after noticing a spike on the replay, even though it looked to be the result of the bat hitting the ground but he was adamant that it nicked off his bat.

When play was initially stopped on Wednesday, the officials adjusted their decision of game considering poor lighting. Josh Hazlewood recognised that as the game drew to a close and Marco Jansen began to get a barrage of short deliveries, but that was after Zondo was removed.

Following Zondo’s dismissal, the in-form Kyle Verreynne edged to slip during a masterful bowling performance by Pat Cummins. It left South Africa requiring 127 runs to escape the follow-on or 14 wickets to complete the final day.

“It was just dark…that’s what I felt, it was quite dark. He [Cummins] is not slow, is he?,” Khaya Zondo said.

Dean Elgar Gets Support From His Teammates

He also offered encouragement to skipper Dean Elgar, whose disastrous batting trip was worsened by a ferocious working over from Hazlewood and Cummins.

Dean Elgar’s average of 9.20 with one innings left is the fourth-lowest by a visiting captain who has participated in at least three games in a series, trailing only Courtney Walsh, Ivo Bligh, and Arthur Gilligan.

“He’s been in good spirits…in the changing room, you don’t see any frustrations. I’ve been a captain at domestic level and I know what it can be like. If you are doing it at international level I’m sure it’s 10 times heavier but he’s handling it well,” Khaya Zondo said.

“You can see that he’s experienced, so he knows the wheel will turn. He’s just got to stick to his processes and the team will also gather more experience and come right at some stage. The sun will shine eventually, it won’t stay like this forever.”