Feature

The drop, and Wellington's grammar police

Plays of the Day from the first day of the third Test between New Zealand and South Africa in Wellington

Graeme Smith was given out caught-behind even though Hot Spot revealed no contact with the bat  •  Getty Images

Graeme Smith was given out caught-behind even though Hot Spot revealed no contact with the bat  •  Getty Images

Kallis moment of the day
South Africans are often of the view that Jacques Kallis does not get the recognition he is due and that his importance to the team is often undervalued. If they needed evidence that it is not, it came today. Kallis was forced to withdraw from the match because of a stiff neck, making it the first time since the Boxing Day Test in 2006 that he has missed a Test for South Africa.
Usually, he plays despite his niggles. Against India in January last year, he batted with a side strain which the team doctor described as being as painful as breaking a rib every time he moved and scored a hundred in each innings. Kallis' injury meant that South Africa had to reshuffle their XI to maintain balance. They were forced to sacrifice their frontline spinner, Imran Tahir, because Kallis needs two players to replace him. JP Duminy was named in the middle order and Marchant de Lange will do the bowling duties in Kallis' absence.
DRS decision of the day
Technology has come to play a starring role in this series and found its way into the spotlight again. Graeme Smith was given out by Aleem Dar after Doug Bracewell got one to nip back in as Smith attempted a cover drive. New Zealand were convinced bat met ball but Smith was not and asked for the review. Hot Spot did not reveal anything, although there was a noise but Billy Doctrove, who is the third umpire for the match, upheld Dar's decision.
Last week, Virtual Eye inventor Ian Taylor said the umpires should be able to use their discretionary powers to over-rule technology, if they felt they had enough evidence to do so, and this may have been the first application of that theory.
Sign of the day
Officials at the ground took decisive action after a lengthy delay caused by too much movement on the grandstand end held up play when Mark Gillespie was bowling. The staircase leading to the stand was soon being manned by someone who had to tie a rope blocking off access every time the bowling changed ends. Printed posters were also made, which read "Please remain seated whilst bowling from this end." The spectators who saw the suited man in their way sniggered as he went about his task while Dean Brownlie bowled. It turned out they belonged to the grammar police as one of them piped up, "Does Dean Brownlie know he should be seated now?"
Drop of the day
When Alviro Petersen charged down the track to Daniel Vettori, the ball was headed the way of those sitting on the grass embankment at long-on. It travelled long and high, giving a spectator enough time to get under it and after running to his left, he let the ball slip through his fingers. He lost the chance to win $200, which he was reminded of as the big screen flashed the amount, and ducked his head in embarrassment at his mistake.

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent