Match delayed after third official gets stuck in a LIFT leaving confused players stranded in bizarre scenes
AUSTRALIA’S Test match with Pakistan was delayed after the TV umpire got stuck in a LIFT.
The Aussies led by 60 as they returned from lunch on 6 for 2 in their second innings at the MCG on Thursday.
Australian batsmen David Warner and Steve Smith were ready to resume as they headed out to the wicket at 1.25pm.
But the two umpires in the middle refused to allow play to start due to TV umpire Richard Illingworth having gone missing from his post.
After several minutes of Warner and Smith standing around bemused, fourth umpire Phil Gillespie ran from the boundary to assume Illingworth’s position in the box.
Moments later, Illingworth emerged and gave a wave to those out on the field.
Play then resumed after a seven-minute delay.
During the confusing pause, Cricket Australia tweeted: “The game is delayed because the third umpire… is stuck in the lift.”
To which the MCG account replied: “Sorry.”
And that was not the end of the controversy involving the umpires at the match.
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Later in the day, umpire Joel Wilson was replaced by Gillespie because he needed to leave the field for one over for an unspecified reason.
Australia closed day three in Melbourne on 187 for 6, leading Pakistan by 241 runs.
Meanwhile, two fans in attendance at the match were left thoroughly embarrassed after being caught frolicking in the crowd.