Nasser Hussain Unhappy With ICC's "Bad Light" Laws

Former English captain Nasser Hussain has expressed disappointment with regards to ICC’s rule regarding bad lights. Bad lights have remained one of the most significant issues that have widely affected the completion of Test matches over the years. The same erupted during the first Test between England and West Indies on the first day of the first Test in Southampton and Nasser Hussain has called for a change.

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Cricket began its road to return to normalcy as England and West Indies locked horns in the first of the three Tests at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday. The match took place behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment, arranged in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. While persistent rain remained an issue, the play got abandoned for once and for all after only 17.4 overs on the opening day.

Nasser Hussain feels disappointed that the ICC leaves it on the umpires to decide whether due to bad light, it would be impossible for the play to happen. The cricketer-turned-commentator feels that the umpires can have the players on the field even if the light be considered poor. Hussain was unhappy that despite spending abundantly on the lights, turning it on, the umpires force players out of the field due to it being unfavourable.

“It’s one thing you have to try and explain to somebody new to the game. You spend a lot of money on lights, turn the lights on and go off for light. On this occasion, they’ve gone off for rain. It is something eventually that I’d like the ICC to change really,” Hussain told Sky Sports Cricket.

“They might say ‘You’re a retired player’” : Nasser Hussain

The Chennai-born former batsman further said that when trying to counter the statement, one might say it back that they are retired players. Hussain said that if it was not raining players could be persuaded to keep the game moving and stay in the park.According to him, since the lights are already on, they must be kept on the ground.

“They might say ‘You’re a retired player’ and (talk about) stats, but look at that, the lights are on. If it wasn’t raining now, maybe the players could buy into the fact that the game needs to keep selling itself and if you can stay on, do stay on,” he added.

Bad light also played spoilsport in the 2013 Ashes series when England needed 21 off 24 deliveries in pursuit of 227; however, the umpires stopped the play due to bad light. The same happened in January 2019 in Sydney during the fourth day between Australia and India.

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