Growing calls for the ICC to change test conditions
As the recently
concluded test between England and Pakistan in Southampton saw just over 134
overs bowled through the five days, bad light laws and playing conditions
came under the spotlight once again.
Many commentators involved in the game made calls that they would like to see some form of change from the International Cricket Council when it comes to bad light decisions as the match at the Ageas Bowl was heavily impacted by this.
Rain also played its part but there is nothing that can be done besides the covering of the pitch, but to call a days play off early when the light it poor only for the sun to come out later seems to have irked some of England’s commentators.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan posted to his Facebook page that this past week on the South Coast of England was a bad look on the games proudest format.
“To have teams going off for bad light when the floodlights are on is a terrible look,” The Test Match Special pundit said. “For the day to be called off in broad daylight and sunshine because of a wet outfield on Sunday night looked as if nobody cared about getting the match played.
“It was a complete snub for the paying viewer at home and the broadcasters who pump so much money into cricket.”
It’s easy to have a go at the ICC for these situations but it’s important to offer viable solutions and Shaun Pollock is one person who has been an advocate for using the pink ball even if it isn’t a day-night test.
He has spoken out about the fact that test matches at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead in Durban should be played with a pink ball due to the nature of the weather and how it clouds over often in the afternoon.
This will go a long way to getting an entire day’s play in at Kingsmead but also at a number of other grounds around the world.
Another former England captain Nasser Hussain feels that the way in which umpires want to make up for lost time in a test match needs to be altered.
“Why don’t we start at 10:30 in the morning when it is perfect sunshine?” he said during the Sky Sports broadcast. “At the end of the day when it’s getting darker we make up time but at the beginning of the day when it’s getting lighter we don’t make up half an hour. Where’s the sense in that?”
England captain Joe Root mentioned after the game at the Ageas Bowl that lights and the ball were the main factors when it came to bad light rulings.
“I don’t know if you need a minimum standard of flood light and you keep them on throughout or you use a lighter red ball, not the dark Dukes ball.
"I don’t know but until the ICC make the changes the umpires have to follow the laws provided.”
It’s a problem that we have seen in Durban for many years and it influences the grounds chances of hosting test cricket. If the ICC put in place rules for certain grounds that are known to battle with light then there’s a way forward.
