While the English summer provides gripping moments of cricket with electrifying moments, it also brings about sluggish stretches when the light declines beyond the permissible level, similar to what unfolded on Day 1 of the third Test between England and Sri Lanka.
English opener, Ben Duckett, who scored a quickfire knock justified the on-field umpires escorting the players off the field for the second and final time, which got the crowd at the Kennington Oval agitated on them for missing out on the action. He also made it clear that as much as the ardent supporters would’ve wanted to receive full value for their money, it was the players who were in peril of getting injured at the end of the day.
“I think they saw quite a good day’s cricket in the short amount of time there was. That’s living in England and playing cricket in England, they’re the conditions. It’s very easy to sit there as a supporter and want to see more cricket but if it does get really dark and more dangerous, we’re the ones out there playing. I did make a joke saying if they wanted to bowl double spinners before lunch they could do. They weren’t conditions for that. Both sides did it at Old Trafford, went double spin, but when the lights were on and the ball was nipping around a bit, the umpires were taking us off and we’re going to have to go with their rules,” reflected Duckett at the end of the day, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Duckett also mentioned The Ashes in his statement while speaking about the need to get off the field as per the situation. He acknowledged that nowadays, the onus is on the umpires to take a call, unlike earlier times.
“I’m sure if it was that same Aussie attack last summer, bowling in those conditions, you’d probably want to get off the field. It does have a big impact when those lights are on and they’re fully on and the ball starts swinging and nipping around a bit more. To be honest, it’s got nothing to do us. You don’t really get the option anymore. If the umpires take you off, you’ve got to go with their decision,” mentioned Duckett.
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Coming to the day’s play, there were clear signs of England attacking the Sri Lankan bowlers who failed to capitalize on the overcast conditions presented to them post winning the toss and opting to bowl first. Ollie Pope brought up his 7th Test ton, registering it against the seventh different nation in his red-ball career up until now. Duckett too, earlier, was looking all set to stockpile an assertive century but departed for an enterprising knock that had the crowd rise to their feet.
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