'Bloody bonkers': Cricket world erupts over 'crazy' controversy
Aussie legend Mark Taylor has joined the chorus condemning the ‘bonkers’ decision to call the first day of the England and Pakistan clash off early due to bad light.
Captain Azhar Ali was out for a duck as Pakistan limped to 2-53 under floodlights at lunch on day one of the first Test against England.
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But the visitors well and truly recovered and Pakistan finished the day 2-139 with opener Shan Masood scoring 46 and Babar Azam 69.
However, umpires Richard Kettleborough and Richard Illingworth called the days play with two spinners, Dom Bess and Joe Root, bowling in tandem in an attempt to keep the game going.
Taylor, an Aussie test legend and former ICC committee member, took aim at the decision, which was costly for the game.
"In my time on these various panels the umpires were encouraged to stay on the field, pretty much at all costs," Taylor told the Wide World of Sports.
"I just don't understand it, if you've got two spinners bowling and no-one looks like getting hurt, I can't see why you'd go off.
"It's crazy, I don't understand it at times. Sometimes in cricket we don't help ourselves. The goal should always be to maximise the amount of play.
Former England captain Vaughan stunned
The decision was also blasted by former England captain Michael Vaughan who said Test cricket can be ‘bloody bonkers’.
Social media agreed with Taylor’s call that the game of Test cricket was doing no favours for itself.
2 off spinners bowling ... 2 Batsman on 50 ish each ... and we go off for bad light ... Test Cricket is bloody bonkers ... #ENGvPAK
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 5, 2020
And stupid ICC rules.
If you wait for perfect sunshine conditions in the north of England, you won't finish many games of cricket.
It's ridiculous to come off for bad light or a tiny shower in the UK— Steven caddick (@Noname1000143) August 5, 2020
Couldn’t agree more with this. As things stand, I can’t see me paying for a ticket in advance to go watch cricket again. Totally beholden to the weather in a way other sports aren’t https://t.co/5ELlsp3u4S
— David Summers (@davidsummers64) August 5, 2020
I do laugh about 'bad light' in cricket 🏏🤦🏻♂️
England have 2 spinners bowling with the floodlights on & they have to go off the field ... meanwhile, almost simultaneously, I can hear the cricket outside at Brooklands just getting underway 😂 #ENGvPAK #BadLight #Brooklands #Cricket— Andy Thomas (@andythomas1990) August 5, 2020
England's so lucky.
Rain delay arrives just as Babar was threatening to cut loose.
Bad light delay arrives again just as Pakistan were about to charge on.
Unreal luck.— Siddhant Guru (@Siddhantguru) August 5, 2020
England have named an unchanged side from the one that defeated West Indies by 269 runs last week, though key allrounder Ben Stokes is unlikely to be used much with the ball due to a quad injury.
Pakistan have gone with three seam bowlers, including young firebrands Shaheen Afridi, 20, and 17-year-old Naseem Shah, who are likely to play a key role in the series with their pace and movement.
They have also selected the leg-spin duo of Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah, and with the wicket already showing some sign of wear, they could be crucial in the fourth innings if Pakistan can get enough runs.
The tourists last won a test series in England in 1996, though three of the five since have been drawn, including their past two visits in 2016 and 2018.
