'Just Change to a Pink Ball and Carry on': Michael Vaughan Not Happy With Bad Light Stopping Sydney Test

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan seemed disappointed with the administrators of the game after the second day’s play between Australia and Pakistan in the third Test had to be stopped due to bad light. The second day’s proceedings were stopped with Australia batting at 116/2 chasing Pakistan’s first-innings total of 313 in the second session. The umpires called for early tea as there was no change in weather conditions. Vaughan stated that the pink ball should have been introduced in a bid to continue the day’s play. “Just change to a pink ball and carry on. Test cricket continues to shoot itself in the foot,” the ex-England cricketer wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

As per a Fox Cricket report, the Pakistan cricket team were asked if they wanted to bowl two spinners but captain Shan Masood refused the proposal and as a result, the game was suspended. The match was suspended at around 2.23 PM with 44 overs still to be played.

“The umpires are out in the middle having a chat, you just wonder if they are talking about the light, I hope not. Yeah they are, here we go,” Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.

“Seriously, is it that dangerous? Come on. Australia have lost two wickets, is it that dangerous? One of my bugbears with Test match cricket is that we just seem to find a way of getting off the pitch at any opportunity. T20 cricket, 50 over cricket, you just stay out there and go through with it. It’s an entertaining business… I just can’t stand this happening in the game of Test match cricket, the greatest format. The game continues to have these kinds of moments,” the 49-year-old added.

David Warner, playing his final Test, was the first to depart on day two of the match. The southpaw departed having scored 34 runs in what is being considered as the penultimate innings of his illustrious Test career. Usman Khawaja was the next to be dismissed for 47. Marnus Labuschagne is currently batting on 23. Steve Smith is unbeaten at the other end on six. Aamer Jamal and Agha Salman picked up one wicket each for the visitors on Thursday. Australia currently lead the three-match Test series 2-0 against Pakistan.