PAK vs AUS: Michael Vaughan And Wasim Akram Brutally Thrash Umpires For Delay In Play On Day 2 Of Sydney Test

The PAK vs AUS second Test on day 2 in Sydney has been stopped due to bad light. Australia in their first innings were 116/2 before the umpires decided to stop the day’s play due to bad light.

David Warner in the first innings of his final Test match was dismissed for 34. Usman Khawaja fell for 47. Marnus Labuschagne (23*) and Steve Smith (7*) were unbeaten at the crease when bad light stopped play.

Pakistan skipper Shan Masood requested the umpires to let the match continue but the umpires chose the safety first option. This move by the umpires agitated former England skipper Michael Vaughan who is part of the commentary team for the Test match.

“Seriously, is it that dangerous? Come on. Australia have lost two wickets, is it that dangerous? One of my bugbears with Test match cricket is that we just seem to find a way of getting off the pitch at any opportunity.” said Vaughan

“T20 cricket, 50 over cricket, you just stay out there and go through with it. It’s an entertaining business. There’s no threat to the batters. Alright, you might get out, you might play a poor shot. I haven’t seen one delivery where Marnus or Steve Smith has sort of looked like they haven’t picked it up out of the hand. I just can’t stand this happening in the game of Test match cricket, the greatest format. The game continues to have these kind of moments” Vaughan continued as he vented out his frustration.

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Michael Vaughan, Wasim Akram, Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh Slam Umpires For Calling Off PAK vs AUS 2nd Day’s Play

Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram also agreed with Vaughan’s thoughts and said that the umpires should have let the game continue. Adam Gilchrist who is part of the commentary panel also shared his thoughts.

“(Masood) wanted to keep bowling (fast bowler) Aamir Jamal,” Gilchrist said.
“I agree with Masood. Why should he have to bowl only spin,” Akram added.

The former England skipper came up with a suggestion to avoid such problems in Test cricket. He said that a pink ball can be used in cases when the weather plays sports and hinders the continuity of the game.

“It’s so frustrating. In a couple of test matches we will be using a pink ball in Brisbane. Can’t we just carry on? Don’t you have a box of pink balls of certain ages and you get one out that is 47-50 overs old and just carry on with the pink ball and the game,” he said.

Mark Waugh who was also a part of that discussion shared his thoughts on the same. He said that there is a difference between bad light and “dangerous light. He said given the conditions, the light was not dangerous for play to continue.

“I like that, but my solution is even simpler. I think we’re getting mixed up with the line between not perfect light and dangerous light. There’s no way it’s dangerous out there. We saw Steve Smith play a hook shot off Jamal about 20 minutes before they went off. The light was very similar. I think the level that it’s set at is too much in favour of not playing. We should be playing, it’s not dangerous out there. No way in the world” Waugh said.

Pakistan batted first in the second Test after winning the toss. They were bowled out for 318 with Mohammad Rizwan top-scoring with 88. Agha Salman scored 54 as Shan Masood (35) and Babar Azam (26) also scored runs. Pat Cummins took 5/61 with the ball for Australia.

Australia have already won the Test series by winning the first two Tests. They won the first Test by 360 runs and the second by 79 runs.

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