Furious Steve Waugh calls for the ICC to ‘move with the times’ after Australia v South Africa farce

Steve Waugh led a chorus of criticism against the ICC on Wednesday after fans grew frustrated with constant delays during Australia’s third Test against South Africa.

Poor Sydney weather resulted in a rain-interrupted opening day of the Test match against Proteas, with fans having to sit out for a two-and-a-half hour delay. The players returned for just four overs before being sent off again.

The biggest delay was due to poor lighting, but former Australia captain Waugh noted on Instagram that the decision not to turn on the lights at the SCG lacked common sense.

Steve Waugh criticized the ICC after a frustrating day of Test cricket in Sydney

“Test cricket must realize there is a lot of competition and not using lights when players are out due to bad light just doesn’t add up,” he wrote.

‘Many unhappy viewers who can’t understand the logic and reason for not playing. #commonsense #movewiththetimes @icc @cricketaustralia.’

A frustrated Marnus Labuschagne also lamented the constant interruptions in Sydney.

Labuschagne was caught from behind at 79 from a vicious rising ball from Anrich Nortje, before the players immediately left the field for the second time due to poor light with Australia 2-147 and stumps penalized.

Bad light caused a two and a half hour delay, but officials refrained from turning on the lights

The firing of the right-hander came at the end of a short four-on-four stint after an earlier delay of two and a half hours, mainly due to poor light with some rain also falling in patches.

“I was definitely very frustrated,” Labuschagne said.

‘It always makes you very angry as a batsman when you come out and then everyone walks you off the field.

“It really makes you think that that specific ball was probably under the light meter and you’re going to get out.”

Asked if he felt it was too dark when Nortje shot the ball, Labuschagne said he had not considered it until his dismissal.

Play resumed during a short spell of four in which Marnus Labuschagne lost his wicket.

“I was really concentrating on the ball… It was certainly dark,” he said.

‘The umpires need to make sure that if they feel it’s dark, it doesn’t matter if the over is still going on or if something happens before we go out.

“But maybe they thought until they fired me (I was fine) and then the light suddenly went out and it got too dark.”

With the series already concluded, a victory for Australia in an already twisting Sydney wicket will guarantee qualification for the World Test Championship final in June.