'Cricket Shot Itself In The Foot': Nasser Hussain Fumes Over Early Stumps At Oval
Nasser Hussain criticized the early Stumps call at the Oval, saying cricket "shot itself in the foot" by delaying the finale to Monday.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain wasn't pleased with the early Stumps called at the Oval. He said that, though abandoning play due to rain and low light was correct by the book, it looked like 'cricket shot itself in the foot' by delaying the series finale from a Sunday evening to a Monday morning.
England were 35 runs short of victory but also six wickets down while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were making the ball move both ways when bad light and rain interrupted play. The day was called off soon after, with the groundsman seemingly anticipating that the ground couldn't be prepared before the cut-off time.
However, the weather eased and sun was around by around 10:40 pm IST, and an extended session till 11:30 pm (which has happened before) could have seen at least a few more overs of play.
'Let me be crystal clear that the match officials followed protocols to the letter for abandoning play on Sunday night. They did everything right," Hussain wrote in his column for The Daily Mail. 'Yet I still can't shake the feeling that cricket shot itself in the foot by playing by the rules. In situations like that, I just wish there was some flexibility and that the players didn't have to be back on the field by 6.42 pm," he added.
'… If there had been delays earlier in the day and the close had been put back to 7.30 pm, that time would have come with the possibility of an extra half-hour if a result could be achieved. That's why I would like to see the playing conditions changed so that at 6.42 pm, if the umpires believe a result can be achieved, that offer could be made to both sides. We had a full house of 26,500, we're trying to sell this game of cricket and this thrilling Test series needed a finale on a Sunday night, not on a Monday morning, when people will be at work — though there will be another sellout on day five," he added.
Hussain admitted that such an exception to extend the timing would need approval from both teams, but urged laws where at least that is asked for, and an attempt is made to get the game going.
'Siraj won't stop': Nasser Hussain
Hussain also went on to laud India and Mohammed Siraj for turning around their defense of 374, where England were at 304/3 at one stage, to 339/6 at Stumps which gives them a true chance to win.
'To put in that hour, in which they dismissed Jacob Bethell and Root, shifting all the momentum, was truly magnificent," Hussain said. 'Suddenly, from nowhere, the ball was swinging and seaming. How they could dig so deep and come right back at England, goodness knows. Mohammed Siraj epitomises such effort and I guarantee he won't stop until that final run is done. It was the dismissal of Brook that opened the door for India, but to people questioning his choice of shot, let me remind them that he got 111 because he plays shots like that," he added.
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