New rule, no change – has cricket missed a trick again with bad light?

More than 60 overs have been lost from the first Test between South Africa and Australia despite a change by the ICC. Has cricket missed a trick? Australia are still in command of the first Test against South Africa, leading by 139 runs despite the early finishes It is one of cricket's oldest and most frustrating problems: bad light. A fascinating passage of play halted when things get too gloomy. The issue has reared its head again this week in the fascinating first Test between South Africa and Australia in Durban, wiping out more than 60 overs across the first three days. The fact a solution was added to cricket's rules just last week, an option so far unused around the world, only adds to the frustration.

Play is already starting early, at 09:30 local time in Durban, given this is the first October Test at Kingsmead, a setting where the sun sets shortly after 18:00 at this time of year on South Africa's eastern coast. Still, on day one, play was halted at 15:23 local time after clouds built. Only 65.2 of the scheduled 90 overs had been bowled and the players were unable to return. Day two was slightly better with play continuing until 16:25, but that finish was still 35 minutes earlier than it could have been.