ICC WTC Final: There Needs To Be Clarity Around Bad Light, Says Sanjay Manjrekar

Play was stopped thrice since the tea break in the ICC WTC final between India and New Zealand on Saturday in Southampton. Bad light forced the umpires to call for an early tea which was something that the fans inside the stadium protested. After the third session resumed, the on-field umpires called off play twice as the light was not ideal enough for the play to continue.

Meanwhile, former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar who is presiding over the final as an expert with ESPN Cricinfo said that there needs to be clarity with bad light in such an important game. He said that the umpires should be more reasonable and have more clarity before calling off play due to bad light.

More Clarity Needed With Bad Light: Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar also went onto explain a bad-light situation in a game saying the batsmen can be offered the light if they cannot see the ball at all and run the risk of getting hit. He further said that the parameter to judge bad light during play has changed over time. Now the umpires have set a particular parameter and if the reading is over that set parameter umpires more often than not call off play.

It is on this reference that he says that there should be clarity regarding the bad light. He said that the umpires these days offer light to the batsmen while being cautious of the fact that the players might get themselves injured.

Meanwhile, India reached as far as 146/3 before bad light stopped play. Virat Kohli was unbeaten on 44 while his deputy Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on 29. The Indian openers Rohit Sharma (34) and Shubman Gill (28) added 62 for the first wicket.

India then lost wickets at 63 and 88 before Kohli and Rahane added an unbeaten 58-run stand for the fourth wicket from 147 balls. Kyle Jamieson broke the opening stand after which Neil Wagner and Trent Boult struck twice in quick succession to bring the Kiwis back into the game. While Wagner dismissed Gill, Boult took the prized wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara.

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