- ‘I haven’t seen a game affected by bad light as much as this one’
- Match at Ageas Bowl was shortest Test in England for 33 years
Joe Root admitted to frustrations over bad light but defended the umpires following the shortest Test match on English soil for 33 years in terms of balls bowled. Only 134.3 overs were sent down across the five days as rain and problems over the light saw England and Pakistan draw the second Test here, a result that sees the home side go into Friday’s series finale on the same ground 1-0 up.
Not since the two countries met at Lord’s in 1987, when 112.5 overs were bowled, has a Test in England been so badly affected, with the International Cricket Council now set to discuss the matter at the next meeting of its cricket committee. Among the topics up for debate are the use of a pink ball and encouraging more play under floodlights. The England and Wales Cricket Board is considering bringing in 10.30am starts to make up lost time and may even start this week with the third Test.