Sun Interrupts Play in Bizarre ODI Between India and New Zealand
In an unprecedented turn of events, the first ODI between India and New Zealand at McLean Park on January 23, 2019, was halted due to sunlight. The bizarre incident occurred during the day-night match, leaving players and spectators alike bewildered.
Normally, cricket pitches are positioned in the North-South direction to avoid direct sunlight in the batsmen’s line of sight. However, at McLean Park, the pitch is East-West facing, exposing the batsmen to the sun’s glare.
As the sun began to set, its rays shone directly into the eyes of the batsmen, making it difficult for them to see the ball. After the dinner break, the umpires decided to halt play for approximately half an hour to ensure the safety of the players.
This was not the first time that sunlight had caused interruptions at McLean Park. Similar incidents had occurred during domestic competitions and reportedly at some English grounds. However, this was the first time that a sun-induced stoppage had occurred in an international match.
Indian captain Virat Kohli expressed his surprise at the unusual interruption. “Never in my life,” he said when asked about the halt. “It was funny. In 2014, I got out once with the sun in my eyes and this rule wasn’t there then.”
At the time of the stoppage, India was chasing 158 and had reached 44/1 in 10 overs. Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan were batting on 2 and 29 respectively. Play resumed after the sun had set, and India went on to win the match by six wickets.
The incident highlights the importance of considering all potential factors that can affect the safety and fairness of a cricket match. While rain-related interruptions are common, sun-induced stoppages are a rare but not unheard-of occurrence. As cricket continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see more unusual and unexpected interruptions in the future.
