Furious Steve Waugh has called on the ICC to ‘get with the times’ after cricket fans were left frustrated by delays in Australia’s third Test against South Africa
- Steve Waugh asks ICC to start using ‘common sense’
- Cricket fans were left frustrated by the long delay on Day One in Sydney
- Waugh said the officials should have switched on the lights at the SCG
- Marnus Labuschagne lost his wicket in a four-over stint on Wednesday
Steve Waugh led a chorus of criticism against the ICC on Wednesday after fans were frustrated by continued delays in Australia’s third Test against South Africa.
Sydney’s inclement weather resulted in a rain-delayed opening day Test match against the Proteas, with fans having to sit through a two-and-a-half-hour delay. The players returned for just four overs before being sent back again.
The longer delay came because of bad light, but former Australian captain Waugh pointed out on Instagram that the decision not to turn on the lights at the SCG lacked common sense.
Steve Waugh has blasted the ICC after a disappointing day of Test cricket in Sydney
‘Test cricket needs to realize that there is a lot of competition out there and not using the lights when the players are off for the bad light doesn’t add up,’ he wrote.
‘There are many disgruntled spectators who do not understand the rationale and reason for not playing. #commonsense #movewiththetimes @icc @cricketaustralia.’
A frustrated Marnus Labuschagne was left to absorb the continued disruption in Sydney as well.
Labuschagne was caught for 79 from a vicious, rising ball from Anrich Nortje, before the players immediately left the field for the second time due to bad light with Australia 2-147 and the stumps were called.
Bad lighting caused a two-and-a-half-hour delay, but officials kept the lights on
The right-handed dismissal came at the end of a short four-over stint after an earlier two-and-a-half-hour delay, mostly due to poor light with some rain as well.
‘I’m really disappointed,’ said Labuschagne.
‘You always get so angry as a batter when you go out and then everybody walks off the field with you.
‘You really think that that particular ball is probably under the light meter and you’re out.’
Asked if he felt it was too dark when Nortje bowled the ball, Labuschagne said he didn’t consider it until his dismissal.
Play resumed for a brief four-over spell during which Marnus Labuschagne lost his wicket
‘I was just really focused on the ball… It was definitely dark,’ he said.
‘The umpires have to make sure if they feel it’s dark, it doesn’t matter if it’s over or something happens before we go.
‘But maybe they thought until I was dismissed (it was OK) and then the light suddenly fell and it became too dark.’
With the series now over, a win for Australia on a Sydney wicket already offering spin would guarantee qualification for June’s final World Test Championship.
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