SJS
Hall of Fame Member
South Africa v England: first TestSlow Love™ said:SJS, do you have any more info on this (or a source)? What a weird arrangement. Still don't understand how the floodlights come into it though.
I wonder if it was an arrangement between the captains or the respective boards - 'cause if Vaughan agreed to this, he really shot himself in the foot, as Smith has made really good use of it so far. Hopefully we won't see a situation like this again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strauss makes light of the gloom
South Africa 337 & 229; England 425 & 93-3
Mike Selvey in Port Elizabeth
Tuesday December 21, 2004
The Guardian
England, having kept their noses in front from the second ball of the match, were within 49 runs of winning the first Test when bad light stopped play with 12 overs of the fourth day and an optional period of extra-time in hand. At that stage Andrew Strauss, 51 not out to go with his hundred in the first innings, and Graham Thorpe, on 23, had already taken their fourth-wicket partnership to 43 and looked in a position to steer the side home with a day in hand.
The gloom had enveloped the ground all day though and from the third over of their innings - begun after tea - the floodlights had been switched on. Even then, however, conditions were marginal and, although England declined the opportunity to leave the field, the South African captain Graeme Smith invoked a pre-tour agreement whereby if the artificial light supercedes the natural the fielding side has the option of going off even if the batting side wishes to stay on.
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/story/0,10069,1377819,00.html