It defied description yesterday afternoon when, four minutes before stumps, drinks were run out to the Indian batsmen at the Gabba, along with towels and an assortment of batting gloves.
Yes, that’s right, four minutes before stumps.
It must have been damn thirsty work yesterday as the same two blokes had run out drinks just two overs earlier.
I don’t very often yell at the TV when watching sport but I did yesterday, and what I was saying was what the two umpires – Ian Gould and Marais Erasmus – should have been saying as well, “Get off the ground!”
This little rant is not directed at the Indian team – for all sides do the same nowadays – it is directed fairly and squarely at the match officials and the ICC.
Like the first Test at the Adelaide Oval, the over rates at the Gabba have been appalling.
At the scheduled time for stumps yesterday as is the modern norm the daily allotment of overs had not been sent down.
In fact, nowadays the chances of the minimum number of overs being bowled by the scheduled stumps is as likely as a brunette being crowned Miss Sweden.
So, with overs still be bowled yesterday, the extra half-hour clause was invoked. And when that half-hour was done and dusted the players trudged off the ground still leaving behind them seven overs which were never bowled.
Each of the first three days at the Gabba has been extended by half an hour and despite that a total of 25 overs have failed to be bowled.
When play is lost to rain, subsequent days commence half an hour earlier in an attempt to make up the lost time. When it comes to teams being unable to fulfil their obligation of a minimum 90 overs per day, the shortfall simply disappears into the ether.
That is exactly what has happened as a result of the appallingly slow over rates through the first three days at the Gabba – and it is worth remembering that there is no DRS in this series.
Despite an additional 90 minutes of play being added to the opening three days, 25 overs simply vanished – never to be seen again.
For the paying customer of the sport it is simply not good enough,
Why should they be so regularly denied what they have paid for?
Yes, the weather has been hot for the first three days in Brisbane but what we have witnessed in this match and in Adelaide is an all-too-common occurrence no matter what the temperature is.
Over time the ICC has made a rod for its own back by turning a blind eye to the unscheduled drinks breaks that happen all too often throughout a day’s play.
For decade after decade players only received a drink at the scheduled mid-session break.
In more recent times reserve players began to rush drinks onto the ground for the fieldsmen and not out batsman at the fall of a wicket.
Nowadays it is a case of open slather with ‘pit stops’ occurring as regularly as every two overs.
It is time that there was a concerted clampdown.
The umpires are charged with the responsibility of making sure that play continues smoothly and in accordance with the spirit of the game. That spirit should extend to the paying public.
It is time the ICC directed its umpires to stamp out the incessant time wasting that has become a blight on the game.
The game needs to be hustled along by the umpires.
While the myriad mini drinks breaks have a significant effect on over rates there are a lot of other areas where the umpires need to be more diligent.
Batsmen should be instructed to be ready to face the bowler by the time he turns at the top of his run and not be down the pitch still patting the ground.
Captains should be given the hurry up with respect to setting fields and wandering down from slip to talk to the bowler.
At the best of times the game of cricket can have a glacial feel about it but when players are allowed to do as they wish the pace of the game can become farcical.
Captains are threatened with suspension should they become recidivists in the area of slow over rates although there too often seems to be loopholes that they can wriggle through to get off the hook.
Fines are imposed yet they too seem to have made little impact.
Perhaps it is finally time that penalties in the shape of runs are needed to actually get things back on track.
I have never really been a supporter of synthetic penalties such as an additional number of runs being added to the opponent’s total in lieu of a tardy over rate by the fielding side.
But, having screamed at my TV yesterday afternoon perhaps I have been won over.
Enough is enough.
JimBob
Guest
I'm late to the party on this one but just wanted to point out how delighted I was to be invited to fact check this piece. In particular, in didn't seem right to me that, "the chances of the minimum number of overs being bowled by the scheduled stumps is as likely as a brunette being crowned Miss Sweden." After some furious left-handed googling, I was able to confirm that, in fact, four of the last six Miss World Swedens (not to be confused with Miss Sweden, which ceased operations in 2003) were brunettes - See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_World_Sweden. You are welcome.
Spanker
Guest
Dropping Watson will solve the time wasting issue and all other issues -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Simoc
Guest
"For the paying customer of the sport it is simply not good enough" This is where you fail Glen. The paying customers go to the ground to watch. I've never heard one complain. It's the woosies sitting in front of the TV that mimmick the struggling commentary team and do the complaining. And what exactly would you know about paying to go to the cricket, Glen. I suspect you have paid zilch, ever. The conditions at the Gabba have been as extreme as the hottest days at the WACA. The West Indies at their peak bowled around 85 overs on a good day and everyone loved them. And whats more you got to write , have a rant , and earn a buck. Nothing to complain about.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
I think it should be as simple as having a 5 run penalty for every over that you fail to get through in a session. 30 overs per 2 hour session should be very achievable, and if you only get through 26, then the opposition get 20 extra runs. That would give everyone the hurry up... If the umpires feel it's the batsmen who are taking the time, then they get a warning, and if required the penalties are split and they receive a penalty too. Start hurting them on the scoreboard, just as administrators and players are hurting the fans wallets with the constant delaying.
Garry Edwards
Guest
Get used to it boys, the times are a changin' and so too has the balance of power within the ICC.
Doctor Dave
Guest
It's also the ridiculous time-wasting involved in setting fields and consulting with bowlers. A strict maximum time limit should be placed between the end of one over and the beginning of the next. With no conferences (bowling or batting) permitted mid-over. Run penalties are the best solution. BTW, many commentators don't recognise what a disincentive time-wasting is to paying punters. But declining test crowds define the issue. I'd love to see trial legislation for 4 day tests at 115 overs per day.
Red Kev
Guest
It isn't just the unscheduled drinks breaks, nowadays every time a bowler finishes a spell they run off the field for a sit, a drink, and a rubdown. That needs to be flat out banned. If you go off then your captain is down a fielder.
Ash
Guest
As long as everyone realises that it's both teams at fault then I'm fine with the criticism. Just do what social cricketers do and bowl 5 overs from each end consecutively.
matthew_gently
Guest
The bigger picture is that, whatever complex rules you can think of to eradicate time-wasting, teams will always play at the edge of those rules, so ultimately it comes down to strong policing. This is where the real grievance is: the failure of umpires to assertively run the game.
Digby
Roar Guru
Couldn't agree more Glen.
up in the north
Guest
I was frankly gobsmacked to see the Indian batsman having a new grip fitted to his bat. While it was a little bit amusing to see his vest get caught up it seemed to take an age. Very wrong. Maybe a "runs penalty" would be a good idea to help keep them focused.
Digby
Roar Guru
Great idea that thank you.
matthew_gently
Guest
It's not hard to turn the drink-carriers around. I was at the ground yesterday and, for the first time ever, felt genuinely ripped-off by time-wasting tactics and weak umpiring. At 5.26pm there was still time for two more overs, but no-one -- NOT EVEN THE UMPIRES -- were interested. Anticipation in the crowd was high, because we all knew the effect of a wicket on the state of the match. Any team that employs Duncan Fletcher will take grubby gamesmanship to a new low, but what annoys me is that Darren Lehmann, despite what he says in press conferences, is equally complicit in time-wasting. I felt like jumping the fence and giving them all a serve yesterday evening. A bitter end to an otherwise great day's play.
Rob JM
Guest
Give them all hydration backpacks like cyclist wear. Have drinks coolers built into the ground. Like the tennis there should be concessions made on the playing conditions based on the wet bulb temp. That being said there was nearly 1000 runs scored over the first three days so It's not like us spectators didn't get great value.
Chui
Guest
My answer would be how about you write an article about it, and leave the comments section for responses about the relevant article
Chui
Guest
It's funny. All around the world there are children of all ages who are required to wait the required amount of overs before a drinks break, but not the grown ups. If the fielding side doesn't complete their overs, they are penalised or even forfeit a match in the extreme. Umpiring junior ranks, you witness more and more kids asking for random drinks breaks. I wonder why. I'd go so far as to say that only a broken bat is reason enough to call someone from the dressing room. Calling for new inners because they become sweaty is just as bad.
Dr. Nimal Chandrasena
Guest
I must add that I find both umpires lacking in authority and assertiveness; they appear unsure at all times, in most situations. Not that these two are any different from most who are umpiring these days. It is just that I get the feeling 'do not rock the boat too much' is the clear motto and modus operandi in every facet of the game.
Roger
Guest
What is everyone's thoughts of allowing a specialist fielding 12th man? This would bring another specialist skill into the game and allow the game to be more inclusive at an amateur level.
Spanker
Guest
Forget this, the selectors are ripping us off every time they select Watson. What a waste of space and money, keeping someone else's spot. Who is to blame? A disgrace to the baggy green selecting a batsman for 50+ test at ave 36. When did the Aust team decide that English batting averages of sub 40 were good enough? England became a power when they decided that only Aust batting averages of 45+ were good enough. Answers please! -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
It is frustrating. Why are they so slow? In the first test, India tried to use their spin bowlers to up it - but still didn't catch up.