JOHANNESBURG, Nov 22: An alternative umpiring team has been named for the third and final Test between South Africa and India in the wake of the controversy surrounding match referee Mike Denness.

The changes were made by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) after the match had its Test status withdrawn by the International Cricket Council (ICC) because the UCBSA stopped Denness from officiating.

The ICC said on Thursday that if a “replacement match” went ahead instead of the Test, Denness and neutral umpire George Sharp would be withdrawn.

The other umpire appointed to stand in the Test match was South African Rudi Koertzen, with compatriot Dave Orchard as third umpire.

“Koertzen will still stand, and Orchard will be his co umpire,” UCBSA director of cricket operations Brian Basson told Reuters on Thursday. “(South African) Brian Jerling will become the third umpire.”

Basson said decisions on officials for the match had become the UCBSA’s prerogative.

“We must remember that this is no longer an ICC Test match,” he added.

The UCBSA acted after India threatened to boycott the final Test when Denness sanctioned six Indian players, including Sachin Tendulkar, on Tuesday in the drawn second Test in Port Elizabeth.—Reuters