Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey
Test cricket’s rules and lack of common sense has left fans frustrated during the third match between England and Sri Lanka at The Oval.
The first day saw just 44.1 overs sent down due to bad light. Play was halted for three hours during the day even though there was barely a drizzle. After the resumption, play continued until just before 6:30pm before a chorus of boos rung out when stumps were called due to light once again.
Day two was arguably more farcical when it comes to Test cricket’s lack of flexibility. England were bowled out for 321, just minutes before lunch. Instead of taking lunch at that moment, it was decided that Sri Lanka would face one over. So, there was a ten-minute innings break, one over and then a further 40-minute break for lunch.
But, the best was yet to come. In the seventh over of Sri Lanka’s innings, the umpires decided that the light had deteriorated too much for a pace bowler to be bowling. Chris Woakes, in the middle of his over, had to turn to offspin. The umpires took another reading after Woakes’ tweakers, concluding the light got brighter in the space of a few deliveries. Gus Atkinson was allowed to bowl the next over.
Fans slam Test cricket’s archaic rules
Fans have been vocal of Test cricket’s stubborn rules and customs. “This Test is becoming a joke. Pace bowler Woakes is now forced to bowl spin because apparently the light has gotten two bad 2 balls into an over,” one fan posted on X.
Fans and pundits offer solutions to bad light issue in Test cricket
Fans have called for a pink ball of similar condition to be used if light is considered too dark for a red ball. Test cricket is continuing to fight against the meteoric rise of short-form cricket, so any positive changes to the rules to allow for more play can only be a positive.
Yes, there is the argument that conditions can change drastically with a pink ball under floodlights. However, that can add a different and interesting element to the contest. Also, most importantly, play is better than no play. Fans, spectators, broadcasters and sponsors would agree.
