Justin Langer Disappointed For Not Being Able To Play Because Of Soggy Grass

Head coach of the Australian cricket team, Justin Langer feels that the governing body should look into the time lost in a Test match due to rain. Langer expressed his disappointment after the third session on Day 2 of the ongoing Test between India and Australia was washed out despite after the rain had stopped.

Langer understands that it is vital from a fan perspective and that of a broadcaster that maximum amount of cricket is being played. The former opener says that it’s a poor advertisement of the game that the play is halted because of wet grass, especially after losing a lot of game time in 2020 due to the covid0-19 pandemic.

“As a cricket tragic that I am, and also now watching the business of sport, it’s so disappointing for us not to be playing cricket. We’ve talked about getting cricket back on the airwaves and TV screens to make Australians happy, after what’s been a tough 2020, so not to be able to play because of a bit of soggy grass, it’s one of the areas we need to look at in cricket,” Justin Langer told Fox Cricket.

That’s an area where cricket could definitely improve: Justin Langer

There have been some bizarre reasons for play to be stopped; sometimes rain, and later wet grass, recently in New Zealand play was halted because of direct sunlight into the batsman’s eyes. Here what adds to Langer’s frustration is that Australia could miss a chance of winning the match if the rain situation persists – in case of a draw India would retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The 50-year-old says that while the play will start half an hour early, it wouldn’t be enough to compensate for the lost time – there is rain predicted for the rest of the game as well. Langer strongly opines that something needs to be done on the matter of lost time due to rain.

“The umpires did what they had to do, but as a sport, we need to look at that, no doubt about it. I think it’s where cricket shoots itself in the foot,” Justin Langer added.

“It’s great they are starting half an hour early today, but could they start even earlier, half an hour earlier, and say ‘we’re going to have a shorter lunch break’ just to get that time in, knowing there might be some rain in the next couple of days. I think that’s an area where cricket could definitely improve,” the former batsman feels.

Also Read: Watch: Joe Root Rewards Lone England Fan Who Waited In Sri Lanka For Ten Months To Watch His Team Play