Occasions when play was held up in cricket due to bizarre reasons
There have been numerable times that play has been stopped due to rain or bad light. But how many times have do you remember play being stopped due to the sun?
This is exactly what happened during the first ODI match played between India and New Zealand. In what was a rare occurrence, the umpires had to stop play due to the setting sun.
Lockie Ferguson was bowling to Shikhar Dhawan in the 11th over of the innings. However, the Indian batsman failed to spot the ball as the sun came directly in his eyes. He went up to the umpire and told him about this issue.
Looking at the safety of the players, the play had to be stopped as the conditions were not suitable for the batsman. The adverse sunlight distracted the batsman.
It is such a rare occurrence in international cricket because almost all pitches in cricket grounds are positioned North-South. However, the pitch at McLean Park is aligned East-West.
Eventually, play resumed and the match was reduced to 49 overs. India chased down the revised target of 156 with eight wickets to spare.
Let us look at other occasions when a bizarre turn of events stopped play in cricket.
Sunlight - Yes, this is not the first time play has been stopped due to sunlight. Dickie Bird and Cyril Mitchley were officiating a Test match between England and West Indies in 1995. Sunlight was reflected from a glass of a greenhouse nearby and an early tea had to be taken as the light was too strong for the match to continue.
Heat - During 2007, the Friends Provident Trophy semi-final between Derbyshire and Yorkshire, the play had to be stopped due to excessive heat. There was excessive sunshine and Derbyshire batsmen complained they had trouble sighting the ball. The play was held for 45 minutes. Yorkshire went on to win the match eventually through D-L method.
Desert-storm - Another bizarre interruption during a cricket match was a desert storm. It was during the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup semifinal between India and Australia. The match had to be reduced to 46 overs from 50 overs.
Death - It was during the 1951-52 Test series between India and England. The entire 2nd day was deemed as a rest day due to the death of King George VI due to coronary thrombosis.
There have been a few other instances. India were on tour to Pakistan in 1984-85. The entire tour was called off once the news of Indira Gandhi's assassination broke.
The untimely demise of Phillip Hughes in 2014 shook the entire cricket fraternity. As the world wept, 2nd day's play during the New Zealand-Pakistan test was also called off with immediate effect.
Dogs - Animals, and in particular dogs, are known to halter play on quite a few occasions. Dogs have invaded the pitch during the Trent Bridge Ashes Test of 1993, and multiple IPL matches. Pigs, Monkeys, sheep, ducks are the other animals who are known to stop play during matches.