A wet outfield and some cruelly-timed rain contrived to prevent any action on the fourth day of the second Test between India and South Africa here.
Damp underfoot conditions had delayed the start of play on Tuesday, with the umpires — Richard Kettleborough and Ian Gould — concerned by a few sodden patches near the bowlers’ run-up at the northern end of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. After multiple inspections and a lot of work on the field, it was announced that play would finally commence at 2 p.m., with a minimum of 45 overs scheduled to be bowled.
Unfortunately for those in the stands — and there was a bus-load of school-children in full voice — no sooner had the announcement been made than the skies opened up. The covers, which had been off since morning, were quickly brought back on. With no sign of the rain relenting, play was eventually called off. Three full days have now been lost.
“The weather is not something that is in our control so we can’t do much about it,” India’s fielding coach, R. Sridhar said later. “Regarding our plans (for the final day), we will make them based on how many overs are remaining.”
