Former England captain Nasser Hussain has lashed out at the alarming slow over rate during the third Test between England and India at Lord’s, calling the delays 'diabolical' and urging umpires to crack down harder on time-wasting.
Live Score: India vs England 3rd Test
Speaking on Sky Sports, Hussain said: "They are supposed to bowl those overs by 6 p.m., but we are giving them an extra half an hour and they are still not getting through them. You can still have the pace and interesting cricket we are having, and still come down tough on time wasting. Some of the delays this week, and in general, are diabolical, and I think umpires need to come down strongly on players."
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The criticism came after it was revealed that 32 overs were lost over the first three days of play at Lord’s, despite extended playing time. The lack of urgency in the field and frequent stoppages - for drinks, ball changes, and lengthy DRS reviews - have added up, frustrating fans and broadcasters alike.
Stuart Broad, former England pacer, echoed the concern but pointed fingers at cricket’s authorities and umpires for failing to address the problem adequately.
"For the players, I don’t think it is a conversation. For umpires, I don’t think it is a conversation; they want strong relationships with the players. The ICC are not pushing the umpires to force it either — but it is a problem for broadcasters, and it’s a problem for the fans. The fans are missing out on overs."
He added, "If I had bought a day-one ticket for £150 and missed out on Joe Root ’s hundred moment, I’d be slightly annoyed by that."
However, Kumar Sangakkara offered a nuanced take, prioritising the quality of cricket over the quantity of overs.
"I stand firmly in the camp that the cricket has been more entertaining than it has ever been… I don’t watch Test cricket thinking it has got to be 90 overs. But yes, it’s ugly when people just meander around. That is a problem."
Live Score: India vs England 3rd Test
Speaking on Sky Sports, Hussain said: "They are supposed to bowl those overs by 6 p.m., but we are giving them an extra half an hour and they are still not getting through them. You can still have the pace and interesting cricket we are having, and still come down tough on time wasting. Some of the delays this week, and in general, are diabolical, and I think umpires need to come down strongly on players."
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
The criticism came after it was revealed that 32 overs were lost over the first three days of play at Lord’s, despite extended playing time. The lack of urgency in the field and frequent stoppages - for drinks, ball changes, and lengthy DRS reviews - have added up, frustrating fans and broadcasters alike.
Stuart Broad, former England pacer, echoed the concern but pointed fingers at cricket’s authorities and umpires for failing to address the problem adequately.
"For the players, I don’t think it is a conversation. For umpires, I don’t think it is a conversation; they want strong relationships with the players. The ICC are not pushing the umpires to force it either — but it is a problem for broadcasters, and it’s a problem for the fans. The fans are missing out on overs."
He added, "If I had bought a day-one ticket for £150 and missed out on Joe Root ’s hundred moment, I’d be slightly annoyed by that."
However, Kumar Sangakkara offered a nuanced take, prioritising the quality of cricket over the quantity of overs.
"I stand firmly in the camp that the cricket has been more entertaining than it has ever been… I don’t watch Test cricket thinking it has got to be 90 overs. But yes, it’s ugly when people just meander around. That is a problem."
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