Third Test between England and Pakistan to adopt flexible start times after Ageas Bowl washout
The second Test match was drawn after rain and bad light saw the majority of the five days’ scheduled play at the Ageas Bowl wiped out
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Your support makes all the difference.The third Test between England and Pakistan will feature flexible start times in order to avoid the disappointing washout of the previous game.
The second Test match was drawn after rain and bad light saw the majority of the five days’ scheduled play at the Ageas Bowl wiped out. Match officials were criticised in some parts of the media for not pushing harder to squeeze in more overs during dry spells.
After discussions between the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the two teams, it has been agreed that the third and final Test in the series, which begins on Friday, could see play start at 10.30am.
After the game begins on Friday all subsequent days can begin at 10.30am, adding half an hour to the opening session, with the final decision resting with match referee Chris Broad.
Previously any extra time was added to the end of the day's scheduled play, only to go unfulfilled if conditions worsened.
Crucially, there is also a renewed commitment to keep the players in the middle as long as it is safe to do so. Umpires Richard Kettleborough and Michael Gough were criticised in the previous match for being too eager to lead the players off in fading light, but the laws of the game state it must be dangerous or unreasonable visibility rather than merely imperfect.
Gough will be joined in the middle this week by Richard Illingworth, who swaps third-umpire duties with Kettleborough.
An ECB statement on the changes said: "The flexible approach will enable the prospect of making up time for inclement weather during the morning session of subsequent days rather than at the end of the day.
"The match officials will ensure that light is monitored to maximise playing time while it is still safe to do so. The safety of the players is still the number-one priority for this protocol.
"The revised start times have been agreed with the captains and coaches of both England and Pakistan and will be implemented for the final match of this series. Further consideration will be given to applying these changes further at future series played in England."
There has been reluctance in the past to offer flexible starts in deference to ticket-holders, but with no fans in attendance in this bio-secure summer that was no hurdle.
Revised playing times due to bad weather
- After the conclusion of play on day one, the ICC Match Referee, Groundstaff and the ECB Match Manager will meet to discuss the start times for the next day.
- If the forecast looks good in the morning, it will be an option to commence play at 10.30am and that final decision will be made by the ICC Match Referee, Chris Broad.
- The Match Referee will confirm the revised playing times, with the most likely scenario of amending to:
- 10.30am start with 98 overs to be bowled in the day
- 6.00pm scheduled close of play
- 6.30pm extra 30 mins to bowl overs
- 7.00pm cut off for extra time for bad weather during the day
- The morning session would last two and a half hours if the start time was adjusted.
The match officials will ensure that light is monitored to maximise playing time while it is still safe to do so. The safety of the players is still the number one priority for this protocol.
Additional reporting by PA
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