Pakistan's bowling coach Waqar Younis feels match officials can be a little more flexible with regards to their response to bad light interruptions in the Test match game.
Waqar spoke in the aftermath of the inevitably drawn second Test against England in Southampton where poor weather and improper visibility meant only 134.3 overs of play could be held, including a complete washout on Day 3.
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In times when floodlights have never been better in cricket stadiums, fans and observers were left disappointed again over the fact that there had to be frequent stoppages depending on whenever the light-metre reading suggested "dangerous or unreasonable" conditions for play.
It led many pundits to advocate the usage of the much brighter pink ball, employed right now for only Day-Night Tests, something Waqar also had his say on, but he stressed the need for officials to perhaps be a bit more relaxed in their stance on the matter at the first place.
"I feel unless light gets really bad, we can stay out there a bit longer," said Waqar. "But I'm generally in favour of changing as little in Test cricket as possible. It's the oldest and most traditional format. What we need to be careful of is which kind of cricket ball is used."
"I don't yet know how a Dukes pink ball is going to behave in this country. If conditions are overcast and the lights are on, maybe it'll do too much. It can work, but we'd need further trials in England," he added.
1-0 down and 236 all out in the first innings of this Test, a draw has at least kept the possibility of Pakistan not losing the three-match series open, especially as their bowlers once again showed they can build inroads, with England 110/4 (dec) at the close of play on Day 5.
The visitors will be hoping for the loss of play at the Ageas Bowl to perhaps break the home team's momentum and bounce back themselves in the next Test at the same venue, starting Friday (August 21).
(Inputs from AFP)
