The light meter has become a tool of torment, prompting Cricket Australia to call for changes to its use after it robbed fans of an intriguing last hour at the Gabba on Friday.
For the sixth straight full day of Test cricket for Australia’s players, they were sent off the field early, with the home side 3-154 in reply to New Zealand’s 295, due to dimming light.
With Pakistan umpires Aleem Dar and Asad Rauf booed off the ground, frustrated CA boss James Sutherland spoke to match referee Andrew Pycroft before announcing he’d take the issue to the International Cricket Council.
Sutherland called for the ICC to review “bad light” laws before more fans were turned off Test cricket by technology.
“Cricket needs to be looking after fans as our first priority. We need to work harder to give them more, not less,” he said.
Despite sun blazing across the field just five minutes earlier and the viewing conditions still appearing fine, Rauf’s light meter read 8.8 which was below the 9.1 reading recorded on Thursday when they called a finish at 2.32pm.
Both Rauf and Dar said safety was the major issue while the dimming light had swung the advantage in favour of the bowling team.
However, batsmen Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke appeared to be in control and holding the momentum.
It follows a worrying trend after the first four days of Australia’s second Test against South Africa were ended early by bad light calls in Johannesburg.
The fifth day, when Patrick Cummins scored the winning runs, could also have been ruined if play had dragged along another half an hour.
Former England captain Tony Grieg was as indignant as many in the sparse Gabba crowd.
“Off for bad light. This is inexcusable! Batsmen should be allowed to bat on if they want. It should not be totally up to the umpires,” TV commentator Grieg tweeted.
“Oh boy isn’t this technology wonderful? Imagine what it’s going to be like in ten years time.”
Whereas batsmen were previously given the choice by umpires to take the light, the light meters now completely determine whether play continues.
“We have to follow the readings,” Dar told ABC Radio. “We were not satisfied with the light and it’s not good for the safety of the players.”
While the ground lights were on, Rauf said the red ball was harder to pick up for the batsmen than the white ball in night matches.
“We always do what is fair for both teams,” he said.
Australian spinner Nathan Lyon and New Zealand counterpart Daniel Vettori were both diplomatic after play.
“It is frustrating for all the players but it does come down to safety and at the end of the day it’s only cricket,” Lyon said.
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