Australia Faces Bad Light Disruptions in Durban Test

More than 60 overs have been lost in the first Test between Australia and South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban because of repeated bad light interruptions, disrupting play despite recent ICC rule changes designed to address the issue.

According to BBC, the match has started at 09:30 local time because it is the first October Test at Kingsmead, where sunset occurs shortly after 18:00 on South Africa's eastern coast. Play stopped at 15:23 on day one after 65.2 overs, while days two and three also ended early.

BBC weather presenter Chris Fawkes explained that Durban's afternoon conditions have contributed to the problem as temperatures and humidity change during the day.

"Very quickly in the morning, as temperatures have risen inland as the sun heats the ground, a sea breeze has formed with winds coming from the sea into Durban. This has increased humidity levels through the morning and brought some cloud in. As temperatures have started to fall again towards the evening, this has increased the relative humidity with the air getting increasingly saturated. That has caused the cloud to get thicker and lower," said Chris Fawkes, BBC weather presenter.

The International Cricket Council recently amended Test playing conditions to allow teams to agree before a match to use a pink ball throughout if poor light is expected. However, BBC reported that no such agreement was made before the Durban Test.

Former South Africa bowler Shaun Pollock, who was part of the ICC committee that recommended the change, said concerns about the pink ball have limited its wider use in Test cricket.

"They say it moves too much. If Australia were 124-6 and we were using the pink ball, everyone would have said it was the pink ball's fault. If Australia were 124-6 and got to 390 everyone in South Africa would have said it was the pink ball's fault, that it got soft. The pink ball would have meant we played 45 more overs of Test cricket and that is why I am keen to introduce it, and not just for day-night games," said Shaun Pollock, former South Africa bowler.

BBC reported that Australia have played 15 day-night Tests, more than any other team, while Mitchell Starc leads the format's wicket tally with 89 wickets in those matches.

Former South Africa bowler Vernon Philander supports officials making the decision on ball changes when conditions deteriorate, although he noted concerns about fairness between teams.

"They have to take it out of the hands of the players completely and enforce it from the umpires' point of view that the pink ball will become in play when the light has faded enough. You are always going to have the argument of who is ahead of the game. I would like to see the ICC enforce it on to the officials to make that call," said Vernon Philander, former South Africa bowler.