Rain, bad light, or even poor pitch conditions we all have seen cricket matches getting stopped for these reasons. However, some interruptions are truly out of the ordinary and are hard to fathom.
Over the years, there have been some bizarre incidents that interrupted a cricket match. In this article, let’s look at some of the weirdest incidents that brought the game to a halt in different parts of the world.
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1. Flying Ants invade Centurion
India clashed with South Africa in a T20I at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, when flying ants invaded the ground, halting the play for around half an hour. It was the third game of the series when thousands of ants flooded the floodlights, some even getting into the helmets of South African batters.
When umpires noticed some ants landing on the pitch, the play was halted for the time being to ensure the safety of the players. The match resumed 30 minutes later, and India won by 11 runs, making it 2-1 in the series.
2. Toxic smog halts Delhi Test
The Test match between India and Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was delayed multiple times in December 2017 due to dangerous pollution levels in Delhi. The smog was so thick that Sri Lankan players on the field had to wear masks, and two players – Lahiru Gamage and Suranga Lakmal – had to leave as they couldn’t even breathe properly.
Alarmed by the city’s hazardous air quality, the doctors declared a public health emergency in the national capital, and the schools were shut for many days. To date, this is the first international match to be halted owing to the poor toxic air quality.
3. Blinding sunlight in Napier
An ODI played between India and New Zealand in Napier was halted in 2019 after the setting Sun left the batters blinded. Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan complained to the umpires that he was blinded by sunlight directly in his eyes, making it impossible for him to see anything. The South African umpire Shaun George responded, “In my 15 years as an umpire, I haven’t seen this before.” The play was halted for more than 30 minutes until the light improved.
4. Bees swarm at the Wanderers
A swarm of bees invaded the field in a Pink ODI match between South Africa and Sri Lanka in 2017. Players lay down on the field to avoid getting stung, and the ground staff came out with vacuum cleaners and pesticides to clear the bees. It delayed the game for about an hour. It happened again when the two sides crossed paths during the 2019 ODI World Cup in the UK.
5. Total Solar eclipse in Mumbai
A total solar eclipse once caused the most delayed cricket match in history, forcing the abandonment of the entire second day of a Test match between India and England in Mumbai in 1980.
6. Delay in food delivery
The start of the second session on Day 1 of a Test match between South Africa and Bangladesh was delayed by 10 minutes because the delivery of the halal food meant for the visitors was delayed.
Late, it came to light that the delay happened because the Bangladesh team’s caterers had received the wrong printed menu. The officials moved the following sessions by 10 minutes to compensate for the lost time.
7. Clouds came close
Played at the picturesque Dharmsala Stadium, the 2023 ODI World Cup tie between India and New Zealand was briefly halted after the venue got engulfed by low-hanging clouds, restricting visibility.
During India’s run chase, the match was halted for a couple of minutes after the low-hanging clouds came so down on the ground that Indian batters couldn’t see the Kiwi bowlers running towards them to deliver the ball.
Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, Dharamsala often witnesses low-hanging clouds but it was the first such instance during an international cricket match.
