Bad light eats Durban Test as pink-ball chance goes begging

More than 60 overs have been lost to bad light across the first three days of the first Test between South Africa and Australia in Durban. BBC Sport

It is a slow start to a five-day game that already has a result to chase. Australia recovered from 124-6 on day one to make 390 in their first innings. They lead South Africa by 139 runs, and reached 33 without loss in their second innings before light stopped play again.

Only 5.4 overs of that second innings were possible. Opener Maddinson was on 17 when the players left the field. Bad light has now cut short all three days in a row. ESPNcricinfo

The timings tell the story. Day one was halted at 15:23 local time with only 65.2 of the scheduled 90 overs bowled. Day two ended at 16:25. Day three ended at 16:31. Play is now starting early at 09:30 local time to claw back time.

This is the first October Test at Kingsmead, and the gloom has been persistent. Umpires stop play for bad light when they judge it is too dark to see the red ball safely, even in daytime.

There was another option. Following a trial earlier in the year, the International Cricket Council amended its playing conditions to allow the pink ball to be used in Tests. The pink ball is easier to pick up under floodlights and heavy cloud, and is normally used for day-night Tests.

The rule requires both teams to agree before the match starts to use the pink ball throughout if poor light is expected. It does not allow a switch from red to pink in the middle of a game once the light fades. South Africa and Australia held no discussions about using it before this Test.

Former South Africa bowler Shaun Pollock was part of the ICC committee that recommended the change. Australia know the pink ball better than anyone. They have played in 15 day-night Tests, 10 more than any other team, and Mitchell Starc has taken 89 wickets in 15 such matches. The four leading wicket-takers in day-night Tests are all Australians.

For fans, this means a familiar frustration. The contest has moved forward in bursts. Captain Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw led an afternoon fightback from 124-6 to 187-6 before bad light ended play on the opening day. Steve Smith also set the record for most Test catches during the match. Reuters

Two days remain. Early starts will help. But without the pink ball agreed in advance, both sides are still watching the sky.