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'It's pathetic': Controversy erupts in 'ridiculous' cricket coin toss furore

South African cricket great Graeme Smith has taken aim at Faf du Plessis for using Temba Bavuma to call the toss for him before the third Test against India.

Du Plessis has endured an absolute nightmare at the toss in recent times, losing his last 10 on the trot.

So in a bid to try to change his luck he called in Bavuma to call for him.

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Unfortunately it didn’t work, with Virat Kohli winning the toss and India piling on 497 runs after batting first.

Even Kohli couldn’t help but laugh at du Plessis’ misfortune - and the South African skipper copped some flak on social media.

But former captain Smith didn’t exactly see the funny side, labelling the farcical scenes “pathetic.”

“It was a quirky moment, but for me, it was a little bit pathetic,” Smith said in commentary to 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.”

Graeme Smith, pictured here at the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England.
Graeme Smith at the 2019 Cricket World Cup. (Photo Visionhaus/Getty Images)

India rub salt into South Africa’s wounds

Rohit Sharma completed his first Test double hundred and Ajinkya Rahane added a century of his own as India moved into complete control of the third Test in Ranchi.

Starting day two on 3-224, India piled on the runs to declare on 9-497 and then reduced South Africa to 2-9 before bad light prematurely halted Sunday's action.

Rohit rapidly progressed his overnight total of 117 and reached a double century for the first time in the longest form of the game, having previously done so three times in ODIs.

His total had reached 212 from 255 deliveries when he finally fell to Kagiso Rabada, while Rahane moved from 83 to complete his 11th Test hundred with an innings of 115.

Bad light meant only five overs of South Africa's reply were possible, but that was enough for India to put the tourists in complete disarray after openers Dean Elgar (0) and Quinton de Kock (4) were removed.

Du Plessis (1 not out) and Zubayr Hamza (0no) will return to the crease on Monday with their side right up against it in their efforts to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash.

with Omnisport