Just 47 overs were all that could be managed on day one of the third Test between Australia and South Africa, with over 30,000 fans suffering through a frustrating day’s play at the SCG.
Bad light and rain forced players from the field on several occasions, but it was the former issue that had drawn the most ire.
Gloomy Sydney conditions initially forced players from the field when Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne were at the crease in the second session.
It wasn’t the only time play was delayed with bad light, and SEN Test Cricket’s Gerard Whateley believes the bar was set too low early on to compromise the day’s action.
Once the umpires took the initial light reading as players went off, it must improve to play later in the day in order for play to be permitted.
“Too much play was lost yesterday,” Whateley told SEN Breakfast.
“The common sense tag is fair enough, 32,000 people are there, it’s a showpiece event. The rain delays are one thing, but umpires and players were too precious with the light.
“That is easy to say when you’re sitting on the outside, but they went off prematurely in the middle of the first session and that set the bar too low.
“It was almost a bad joke at one stage when the rain had finished, the game had been prepared, the patrons had been told play was about to resume and they walked out with the light metre and declined to start.
“It’s almost illogical at a ground that has such storied lighting as the SCG that you’d be off at two in the afternoon with light.”
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh was scathing of the ICC in his assessment of Wednesday’s action, taking to Instagram to vent his frustrations.
“Test cricket needs to realise there is a lot of competition out there and not using the lights when the players are off for bad light simply doesn’t add up,” he wrote.
“Lots of unhappy spectators who can’t understand the rationale and reason for no play.”
Whateley accepts that sentiment and agrees a change of policy needs to be on the cards from the game’s governing body.
“There is a little bit pf pushback this morning from those set of former players, they lined up behind Steve Waugh who was in the crowd, so he had a good read on the unrest that was happening in the stands,” he continued.
“(Greats of the game) weren’t advocates of continuing to play through poor light when they were playing, but Steve’s suggestion that you have to move with the times seems right.
“To be there yesterday, it was unsatisfactory to the occasion that so much play was lost.”
The SCG floodlights were on throughout the day, but umpires can call a halt in play if they deem the light to be “dangerous or unreasonable”, per ICC rules.
Australia resumes day two at 2-147, with play to begin at 10:00am AEDT to make up overs.