Why not start Test matches early morning at 8 am to counter bad light issues later?

[Savak]

Very often in test matches in the subcontinent I see play get called off early during the day due to bad light around 4 pm onwards instead of the scheduled end of day at 5:30 pm.

Why don't they then make the maximum use of the daylight which probably shows at around 7 in the morning ie start the test match at 8 am so that you can get 90 overs completed by 4 pm?

Food for thought?

 

[Ab Fan]

The players go back to hotel and come back next day fresh from hotel again after having their breakfasts. Hence, 9:30 A.M is the general time consensus that everyone aligns on. But I think in some other venues like say England, it starts at 10 going by 15:30 as per IST.

So, everyone have certain timing for that. Could be changed for half an hour but not possible to start early morning at 8 A.M for sure.

 

[offstump]

It would be possible but I think it’s absurd to start the match that early. Hardly anyone would be at the ground and this also means the players would have to be up at like 4am, to have breakfast then arrive at the ground in time for warmups and prep.

 

[moghul]

Pakistan is not USA where people wake up early and go to work very early in the morning . I am at work at 7 AM but cannot call anyone in Pakistan before 9 AM Pakistan time, everyone is sleeping at that time .

Still I think 9-30 am is a good time to start , in the month of march when sunrise time is around 6-30 AM

 

[Varun]

The rules of the game have for too long been dictated by some old codges in England who don't seem to have much of a world view about logical things like these.

Extract control from the MCC, and these changes can quickly follow.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

The players go back to hotel and come back next day fresh from hotel again after having their breakfasts. Hence, 9:30 A.M is the general time consensus that everyone aligns on. But I think in some other venues like say England, it starts at 10 going by 15:30 as per IST.

So, everyone have certain timing for that. Could be changed for half an hour but not possible to start early morning at 8 A.M for sure.

UK usually starts at 11 to, play often extending to 18 or 1830. Occasionally due to loss of overs it'll be 10 but mostly 1030

 

[MenInG]

In Pakistan its not a bad idea to start early but the problem is our people will never show up so early to see the game.

 

[HitWicket]

The rules of the game have for too long been dictated by some old codges in England who don't seem to have much of a world view about logical things like these.

Extract control from the MCC, and these changes can quickly follow.

There is no rule that dictates what time a game must start, the MCC have nothing to do with it.

 

[Babeikh]

England INSIST that the day cannot start before 11am under ANY circumstances but I think they are the only country in the world which has such a rule. No idea what the logic behind it is. My guess is it is some neoliberal thing about broadcasters and how much money they will get.

So nothing stopping us from starting before 10am local time. I would say 8am is probably stretching things a bit too far. I mean, who is going to wake up at 6, maybe even before - we are Pakistanis, we don't like waking up early. But 9.30 can definitely be done.

 

[HitWicket]

England INSIST that the day cannot start before 11am under ANY circumstances but I think they are the only country in the world which has such a rule. No idea what the logic behind it is. My guess is it is some neoliberal thing about broadcasters and how much money they will get.

So nothing stopping us from starting before 10am local time. I would say 8am is probably stretching things a bit too far. I mean, who is going to wake up at 6, maybe even before - we are Pakistanis, we don't like waking up early. But 9.30 can definitely be done.

I'd guess a part of it is that in England a significant proportion of the crowd will be travelling from outside the city the game is being played in so it's helpful to start later for travel.

There was also a short period where tests started at 10.30 in England.

 

[James]

8AM too early for a number of reasons, but 9:30AM could work in Pakistan.

Don’t even get me started on Test matches in England. 11AM is ludicrous and many people who wake up early are already getting ready for lunch at this point, which is taken far too late at 1PM. Could definitely do 10:30AM starts again or even try 10AM.

 

[sweep_shot]

Good question.

Cricket has a lot of outdated and ridiculous "protocols". It needs to be more flexible. Some of the rules need to be changed.

 

[Major]

the whole concept of day light is ridiculous to play a sport...


Day and night test should be a regular thing now

 

[aqeelPK]

8AM or even 9:30AM start is not possible during winters due to fog. Dew factor will impact day and night tests through most part of the cricket season. Weather is hot during sept, march & april. Oct-Feb are foggy, rainy, shorter days & lots of dew.

 

[SamNJ]

The 10AM PKT start for the tests in Pakistan is quite late. Except Karachi all stadiums in Pakistan are far from the sea, making conditions already very dry and flat.
By 10 AM when the matches start all the moist in the environment and in the pitch is dried up. This totally takes away pacers out of the game when pitches are already very very flat.
An early start can help bring pacers into the play because of conditions and more so if it coincides with the new ball.
I think PCB should look into this part.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

If match stats at 10 am then i don't think 90 overs will be completed in the 3rd Test due to early sunset.