In Test cricket, many questions have been raised about 'bad light' law. There is no clear rule about this, due to which the decision of many matches has been affected. Now former England captain Nasser Hussain has said that the ICC should change its rules related to bad lighting as it has affected many Test matches. On Wednesday, officials canceled the opening day of the first Test between England and the West Indies after playing just 17.4 overs due to bad light and rain.
The ICC leaves this decision entirely to the umpires who decide whether it would be dangerous or unreasonable to continue the play. Hussain, who has scored 5764 runs in 96 Tests for England, feels that even if the lights are a bit bad, perhaps the umpires can keep the players on the ground longer even if light might be considered poor. Hussain said on Sky Sports Cricket that this is one thing that you have to try and explain to the new person in this game. You spend so much money on the light, 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.
He said that they might say that 'you have retired' and talk about figures, but see, 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. The rules of 'bad light' have also been criticized earlier. During the match between India and Australia on SCG in January last year, the umpires stopped the fourth day of play due to poor light, even when these rules were questioned. Chasing a target of 227 runs in the Ashes 2013, England needed 21 runs off 24 balls with five wickets remaining but the umpires halted the match due to poor lighting.
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