During the afternoon session of day three at the Boxing Day Test, the game paused for six minutes when third umpire Richard Illingworth got stuck in an elevator at the MCG.
During the Boxing Day Test’s afternoon session on day three, a six-minute delay ensued when third umpire Richard Illingworth got stuck in an MCG elevator. When players returned after lunch, umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough learned Illingworth hadn’t made it back to his post. The umpire was trapped while moving from the dining area to his designated spot.
Australian opener David Warner found it amusing and laughed at the situation. Reserve umpire Phillip Gillespie rushed to substitute as the third official. Steve Smith humorously asked umpire Wilson if he could sit down until Illingworth returned, creating a light moment amid the unexpected delay.
Wasim Akram chuckled while discussing the incident on Fox Cricket, mentioning a similar occurrence in the past days. He found it surprising, stating it’s something more common in their part of the world than in such venues. Michael Vaughan, recalling the specific lift, remarked on its slowness, anticipating a prolonged wait.
“I know the lift. I know exactly which one. It’s a slow lift. It could be a while here. Clearly the lunch was pretty good, because he had a lot of it,” Vaughan said.
Meanwhile, the crowd expressed their impatience with chants and murmurs. Fortunately, after six minutes, Illingworth reappeared, sheepishly waving at his fellow umpires before the game resumed.
On the match front, Pakistan’s debutant Mir Hamza sent shockwaves through Australia’s batting lineup by dismissing David Warner and Travis Head in consecutive deliveries, reducing Australia to a precarious 16 for 4 at the MCG during Day 3. Earlier, Pakistan’s innings ended at 264, with Shaheen Afridi and Aamer Jamal’s crucial contributions ensuring a competitive total.
Last Updated on December 28, 2023
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