Mohammed Siraj had almost pulled off something similar to what Chris Woakes did during the 3rd Test between England and Bangladesh. Siraj was ready to bowl spin when the conditions in Chennai got overcast and Day 3 play was on the verge of getting stopped due to bad light. Siraj was spotted practising finger spin bowling when the teams and umpires were having a chat about bad light. The umpires decided to take the pace off due to fading light as dark clouds surrounded the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
During that time, Siraj was bowling the 38th over of the 4th innings and it started to only get gloomy. As the umpires asked the players to walk off, Indian captain Rohit Sharma suggested if they could bowl spin. Perhaps, Siraj was also ready to bowl spin as he jogged and mimed bowling spin and twirling the ball in his hands.
He tried to convince Rohit to let him bowl spin, but the Indian captain laughed it off, saying the star pacer cannot bowl spin. Recently, England pacer Chris Woakes turned into an off-spinner due to bad light in the 3rd Test against Sri Lanka. He was forced to bowl off-spin midway through the over due to the on-field umpires’ concerns about the deteriorating conditions.
When Woakes bowled off-spin
However, the decision was met with a chorus of boos from a capacity Oval crowd, as well as bemusement in the commentary box. Michael Atherton declared on Sky Sports that “the game’s gone mad” as Woakes served up a first-ball long-hop that Mendis pulled to deep midwicket for a single, then added “oh, that’s filth” as Woakes’ next delivery pitched three feet outside off stump.
Joe Root reacted with an amused raise of the eyebrows, while Ben Stokes – on the England balcony – gesticulated his disbelief before turning to walk into the dressing room.
What the rules say?
According to Law 2.7.1, which pertains to bad light and other weather-related issues, “it is solely for the umpires together to decide whether either conditions of ground, weather or light or exceptional circumstances mean that it would be dangerous or unreasonable for play to take place”.
However, the law subsequently adds: “Conditions shall not be regarded as either dangerous or unreasonable merely because they are not ideal.”
India ended Day 3 on a high, leaving Bangladesh at 158/4 who chase 4th innings total of 515 runs.
Source Agencies
