After four days of repeat rain interruptions all but put paid to any hope of a result in the third Test, bright skies greeted Australia’s openers as they prepared to take the field for their second innings against India.
With India’s frustrating final-wicket partnership between Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep ended on 47 – enough to avoid the follow-on – when Deep was smartly stumped by Alex Carey off the bowling of Travis Head, all that could be realistically gained for the hosts was time in the middle for Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja and co. ahead of crucial Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
However, play was yet to resume when the openers, as well as the Indian team, were ordered off the field by the umpires – not because of rain this time, but because of lightning around the Brisbane area.
“We’ve just been told that there is lightning in surrounding areas of the Gabba, and with that, players are going to be asked to leave the ground,” Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.
“It’s come into effect in most sports, certainly in Australia – as soon as there’s lightning around, get everyone off the field, inside, under cover.
“They are going to put the cover on [the pitch]. Ironically, it’s almost as bright and sunny as we’ve seen for two days!”
Speaking on Channel 7, former umpire Simon Taufel explained the ’30-30′ lightning rule.
“The ICC have had a lightning protocol in place for a number of years now – probably 5-6 years,” he said.
“It’s a 30-30 rule, so when there is an imminent threat of lightning, and the umpires see a flash of lightning, if they hear a thunderclap within 30 seconds, that’s the guideline for them to suspend play or not to play at all.
“Obviously, there’s a degree of commonsense here, that if the storm is moving away, and that 30 seconds is getting close, they can agree to restart play or keep playing.
“However, in this particular case, with lightning so close, there is an imminent threat, and when they see that flash of lightning and the clap of thunder within 30 seconds, they will suspend and abandon play.
“It is about the safety of everyone – spectators included, groundstaff, and everyone at the ground.”
Concerningly, with storms closing in on the Gabba and more rain expected, the mandatory lightning delay could be the last chance for any cricket to be played on the final day.
Lightning delays have become commonplace in Australian sport in recent years, particularly in 2024, with two separate AFL games put on hold in the most recent season.
In April, play between Geelong and Hawthorn at the MCG was halted for more than 40 minutes at the start of the last quarter, while 36 minutes was the delay for a Collingwood-Melbourne match at the same venue in the final round of the home-and-away season.
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