AUS vs PAK: Watch- 3rd Umpire Richard Illingworth Gets Stuck In Lift, Causes Delay And Hysteria Among Fans And Players In Australia

The bizarre incident disrupted play during the third day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan. The third umpire, Richard Illingworth, got stuck in an elevator at the MCG, causing a six-minute hold-up during the post-lunch session in Melbourne.

After the break, players and on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough were ready for the scheduled second session at the iconic venue. However, a delay occurred as Richard Illingworth got stuck in a lift and couldn’t return to his setup, causing a brief interruption.

Opener David Warner burst into laughter upon learning the cause of the delay. Reserve umpire Phillip Gillespie hurriedly made his way to step in as the third official. Steve Smith, in a light-hearted moment, asked Wilson if he could take a seat until Illingworth returned.

The Third Umpire Is Stuck In The Lift – Cricket Australia

Cricket Australia officially confirmed the unusual incident on their social media handle. Richard Illingworth successfully returned to his seat after a brief delay. A video shared by CA captured Illingworth’s seemingly confused arrival in the third umpire’s room.

It Happened A Couple Of Days Ago – Wasim Akram

Former cricketer Wasim Akram shared his surprise, stating he had never witnessed such occurrences in Australia before.

“Again? It happened a couple of days ago, somebody got stuck in the lift here. I can understand this happening in our part of the world, getting stuck in the lift, but over here? I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Akram laughed on Fox Cricket.

The Lunch Was Pretty Good – Michael Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan humorously attributed the delay to the quality of the lunch, joking that the umpire might have taken extra time due to a satisfying meal.

“I know the lift. I know exactly which one. It’s a slow lift. It could be a while here. Clearly the lunch was pretty good, because he had a lot of it,” Vaughan continued.

After a six-minute delay, Richard Illingworth successfully offered a sheepish wave to fellow umpires as play resumed. Vaughan humorously remarked on Illingworth’s appearance, suggesting fatigue and playfully speculating on the possibility of using the stairs.

“He’s made it. He looks a bit tired. Maybe he had to come up the stairs,” Vaughan said.

Pat Cummins Bags Five-Wicket Haul In First Innings

Pat Cummins delivered an outstanding performance with figures of 5/48 to restrict Pakistan to 264 runs in the first innings. Abdullah Shafique led Pakistan’s batting lineup with an impressive 62 off 109 deliveries. The home team took a 54-run lead in the first innings.

Australia lost Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne in quick succession. Following the lunch break, the hosts collapsed 16 for four in their second innings. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith stabilized the innings, contributing crucial runs to the team’s total.

Also read: AUS vs PAK: Watch- Mitchell Marsh Imitates Cristiano Ronaldo’s Celebration During The Boxing Day Test At MCG