England opener Ben Duckett said rules about bad light protect the players after more than half of the first day of the third Test against Sri Lanka was lost at The Kia Oval.
Only 44.1 of a possible 90 overs were bowled after a near three-hour break in the early afternoon was followed by the players leaving the field more than 90 minutes before play could have ended.
The cricket that did take place was highly entertaining as England moved to 221-3 and scored at five runs per over, but some spectators booed when the umpires made the second intervention over the light.
“If it does get more dark and more dangerous, we’re the ones out there playing,” said Duckett.
“It’s very easy to sit there as a supporter and want to see more cricket. I think they saw quite a good day’s cricket in the short amount of time there was. That is living and playing cricket in England. They’re the conditions.”
England are looking to secure a second successive 3-0 series win and a first 100% home summer in 20 years.
Both of the first two Tests against Sri Lanka, at Old Trafford and Lord’s, included delays for bad light, igniting the debate over whether or not cricket is too cautious when it comes to playing in gloomy conditions.
In the past, the on-field umpires ‘offered’ the light to the batting team, who could then decide whether or not they wanted to play on. Now, decisions over the light are solely at the discretion of the umpires.
Amid an ongoing debate over the health of Test cricket, some argue delays for bad light are damaging the game. Possible solutions would be to use a pink ball for part or all of Test matches, ban short-pitched bowling during periods of poor light, or simply play on through the gloom.
Certainly there seemed to be no danger to England’s batters at any point on Friday. Captain Ollie Pope is unbeaten on 103, while opener Duckett added a dazzling 86.
