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South Africa has received an apology from the Spidercam operators after the camera took out unsuspecting paceman Anrich Nortje while fielding on day two.
During a short break in the second session on day two, the Fox Cricket broadcast cut to Spidercam vision as the suspended camera whizzed around the outfield.
But the operator failed to see Nortje standing there with his back to the approaching camera, and struck the 29-year-old, who crashed to the turf.
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Following the day’s play, Nortje questioned the need for the camera to be so low, and admitted he “didn’t know what hit (him)”.
“The one thing we’ve spoken about earlier is how low it is,” he said after day two.
“It probably shouldn’t (be that low), unless it’s being used for certain interviews or something. I don’t think it should be travelling at head height, that’s just my opinion.”
Despite the blow, Nortje returned to the bowling crease and managed to grab the wicket of Steve Smith in the final session.
“It just knocked the shoulder and the elbow is a bit sore, but otherwise I’m OK,” he said.
“I’ll just monitor it and chat with the doctor. I saw cables and then I moved my head and then I saw the camera, but I was a little bit too late, it was quite quick.
“I didn’t know what hit me, to be honest. It didn’t really change my mindset or anything. I tried to stay focused and tried to stay ready when Dean (Elgar) asked me to bowl.”
Nortje was far from the only person stunned by the Spidercam, with viewers at home left in disbelief at the incident.
The incident summed up a disappointing day in the field for the tourists, whose vaunted bowling attack struggled to penetrate the Aussie batting lineup.
The home side will resume day three on 3-386 with a first-innings lead of 197 runs.
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