Didn't enjoy seeing that: Graeme Smith slams South Africa for using proxy captain at toss in Ranchi

Didn't enjoy seeing that: Graeme Smith slams South Africa for using proxy captain at toss in Ranchi

India vs South Africa, 3rd Test: South Africa's most successful Test captain Graeme Smith said he was not impressed by the visitors' move to send Temba Bavuma as proxy captain for the toss in Ranchi. He added South Africa are looking at the wrong places for reasons for their poor showing in the ongoing series.

HIGHLIGHTS 

• South Africa sent Temba Bavuma as proxy captain for Ranchi toss 
• South Africa lost their 10th successive toss in Asia on Saturday Graeme 
• Smith blasted South Africa for using proxy captain at toss

South Africa used a proxy captain in Temba Bavuma for the 3rd Test in Ranchi on Saturday to reverse their fortunes at tosses but the move did not work as the top-order batsman did not call it right. The failed experiment meant South Africa lost their 10th successive toss in Asia. 

South Africa were unlucky with the tosses in the 1st 2 Test matches which they ended up losing by huge margins. India now have won all the 3 tosses in the series and have batted 1st every time. Notably, Faf du Plessis has lost 7 successive tosses away from home in Test matches.

Virat Kohli had a wry smile on his face after he won the toss. The India skipper shook hands with Faf du Plessis even as the South African skipper stood in disbelief. 

Faf du Plessis said it is important to win tosses, especially on dry surfaces in the sub-continent but insisted his team will be looking to put up a good fight, especially in the crucial 1st innings. 

"It shows that it isn't meant to be (win the toss with a proxy captain). Important toss as this looks the driest surface of the series. It's about the first innings really and we need to put runs on the board when we bat," Faf du Plessis said at the toss. 

Notably, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis had said he was pondering the idea of sending one of his teammates for the tosses.

Addressing the media on the eve of the 3rd Test between India and South Africa in Ranchi, Faf du Plessis had said: "Probably will [send] somebody else to the toss tomorrow, I'll give you that, because my record so far hasn't been great, and then, yeah, if we put big runs on the board in the first innings, that's where we need to start."

Graeme Smith slams South Africa's mindset 

South Africa's most successful Test captain, Graeme Smith said he did not like what he saw at the toss from South Africa and said it reflected the mindset of the visitors who have been struggling to get going in the ongoing series. 

"It was a quirky moment but for me it was a little bit pathetic," Graeme Smith told Star Sports. "It just shows the mindset of the South African side. I didn't enjoy seeing that. I would rather see the South Africa captain stand there, own his position. 

"You know, they are looking at the wrong places for the reasons they have lost the game. Unfortunately, they haven't played well enough. 

Yes, winning the toss in the sub-continent is a nice thing to do but if you play well enough, you can still compete."

Meanwhile, South Africa made 5 changes to their playing XI after the injuries to Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram. 

While Lungi Ngidi, Zubayr Hamza and off-spinner Dane Piedt returned to the side, left-arm George Linde and wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen have made their Test debuts. 

South Africa left out Vernon Philander, Theunis de Bruyn and Senuran Muthusamy while Quinton de Kock was pushed to the top of the batting order. India, on the other hand, made only 1 change. 

Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem made his Test debut, replacing Ishant Sharma who has been rested. Having sealed an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series, India are looking to complete their first-ever whitewash of South Africa in Tests. 

A win in Ranchi will also make Virat Kohli's men the 1st team to reach 200 points in World Test Championship.