Earthquakes, sandstorms, fire and ice
Eleven more instances where play has been brought to a halt by unusual interventions
Martin Williamson
05-Sep-2007
In June we ran an XI of instances where matches had been stopped by various natural interventions, attracting considerable feedback. At the end of an English summer which has been among the wettest in living memory, we thought it apt to bury the season with some more freak stoppages ... both natural and unnatural.
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Fog
A particular problem in some parts of Pakistan, where heavy fog often prevents early starts. Lately there have been regular suggestions that Tests in the country be staged over six days to ensure there is enough playing time. In 1998 Zimbabwe won their first overseas series when the second Test at Lahore, which they dominated, ended in a draw after 13 hours were lost to fog (including the entire last day), and the third Test at Faisalabad abandoned after the first four days were fog-bound. There have been instances in England, usually because of the more seasonal sea frets, but in August 1959 play was suspended for 40 minutes in the New Zealanders' tour match at Edgbaston because of thick fog.
A particular problem in some parts of Pakistan, where heavy fog often prevents early starts. Lately there have been regular suggestions that Tests in the country be staged over six days to ensure there is enough playing time. In 1998 Zimbabwe won their first overseas series when the second Test at Lahore, which they dominated, ended in a draw after 13 hours were lost to fog (including the entire last day), and the third Test at Faisalabad abandoned after the first four days were fog-bound. There have been instances in England, usually because of the more seasonal sea frets, but in August 1959 play was suspended for 40 minutes in the New Zealanders' tour match at Edgbaston because of thick fog.
Lightning
Fortunately lightning-strikes on cricket grounds are rare but when Rhodesia hosted Eastern Province in the 1954-55 Currie Cup (Section B) competition, Bulawayo's Queens Club was struck. Several of the Eastern Province fielders were thrown to the ground and the scorers' box caught fire after electrical equipment ignited as a result of the strike.
Fortunately lightning-strikes on cricket grounds are rare but when Rhodesia hosted Eastern Province in the 1954-55 Currie Cup (Section B) competition, Bulawayo's Queens Club was struck. Several of the Eastern Province fielders were thrown to the ground and the scorers' box caught fire after electrical equipment ignited as a result of the strike.
Ice
Rain washed out the second day of the match between Yorkshire and Gloucestershire at Sheffield in July 1953, but that was nothing compared to a delay on the previous day when fielders were forced to take cover after lumps of ice, some as a big as five inches long, cascaded from the sky - "an astonishing phenomenon" according to Wisden. The delay was short and it was believed an overhead commercial aircraft jettisoning water was to blame.
Rain washed out the second day of the match between Yorkshire and Gloucestershire at Sheffield in July 1953, but that was nothing compared to a delay on the previous day when fielders were forced to take cover after lumps of ice, some as a big as five inches long, cascaded from the sky - "an astonishing phenomenon" according to Wisden. The delay was short and it was believed an overhead commercial aircraft jettisoning water was to blame.
Earthquake
From aerial attacks to one from below. The second day of the first unofficial Test between Lord Tennyson's XI and India at Lahore in November 1937 was delayed when, "to add to the excitement" as The Times gleefully noted, "the ground was rocked for 90 seconds by an earthquake" and play was stopped for two minutes.
From aerial attacks to one from below. The second day of the first unofficial Test between Lord Tennyson's XI and India at Lahore in November 1937 was delayed when, "to add to the excitement" as The Times gleefully noted, "the ground was rocked for 90 seconds by an earthquake" and play was stopped for two minutes.
Wind
Hobart in Tasmania can get rather blustery, but so strong was the wind when the touring South Africans played a Combined XI on their 1963-64 tour that Trevor Goddard, the tourists' captain, appealed to the umpires that conditions were not fair and they agreed, taking the players from the field.
Hobart in Tasmania can get rather blustery, but so strong was the wind when the touring South Africans played a Combined XI on their 1963-64 tour that Trevor Goddard, the tourists' captain, appealed to the umpires that conditions were not fair and they agreed, taking the players from the field.
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Cold
In the earlier article we mentioned that cold had stopped play in the Essex v Cambridge University match in 1981, but things were just as bad in the prestigious end-of-season Gentlemen v Players match at Hastings in September 1903. Persistent rain delayed play and when the players eventually did get out to the middle they soon headed off again because of the chill.
In the earlier article we mentioned that cold had stopped play in the Essex v Cambridge University match in 1981, but things were just as bad in the prestigious end-of-season Gentlemen v Players match at Hastings in September 1903. Persistent rain delayed play and when the players eventually did get out to the middle they soon headed off again because of the chill.
Sandstorm
Playing in a desert has its problems - when Pakistan hosted Australia in two Tests at Sharjah in 2002, the temperatures topped 50 degrees centigrade. But that was nothing compared with the sandstorm which swept across the ground during India's one-day game against Australia in April 1998, sending players and the 22,000 crowd heading for shelter. The Indians lost four overs from their innings, and the match by 26 runs.
Playing in a desert has its problems - when Pakistan hosted Australia in two Tests at Sharjah in 2002, the temperatures topped 50 degrees centigrade. But that was nothing compared with the sandstorm which swept across the ground during India's one-day game against Australia in April 1998, sending players and the 22,000 crowd heading for shelter. The Indians lost four overs from their innings, and the match by 26 runs.
Assassination
India had reached 210 for 4 in the second ODI against Pakistan at Sialkot's Jinnah Stadium in October 1984 when news came through that Indira Gandhi, India's prime minister, had been assassinated in Delhi. The match was immediately abandoned. Meanwhile, England, who were in Delhi at the start of their tour, slipped away to Colombo for a few days to avoid the turmoil that followed.
India had reached 210 for 4 in the second ODI against Pakistan at Sialkot's Jinnah Stadium in October 1984 when news came through that Indira Gandhi, India's prime minister, had been assassinated in Delhi. The match was immediately abandoned. Meanwhile, England, who were in Delhi at the start of their tour, slipped away to Colombo for a few days to avoid the turmoil that followed.
Road rage
The second day of the West Indians' tour match at Northampton in June 1976 was drifting to a sedate close when a car crashed into spectators in front of the pavilion before coming to rest in front of the West Indies dressing room. Several spectators were taken to hospital.
The second day of the West Indians' tour match at Northampton in June 1976 was drifting to a sedate close when a car crashed into spectators in front of the pavilion before coming to rest in front of the West Indies dressing room. Several spectators were taken to hospital.
Litter
A Bank Holiday crowd of more than 31,000 crammed into The Oval for the second day of Surrey's Championship match against Nottinghamshire in August 1925 - "too many for the ground and the police" according to The Times - and as spectators repeatedly spilled onto the pitch, there were constant delays. But the one oddity came when litter, mainly from newspapers, blew across the outfield in the afternoon, causing a significant delay while it was cleared.
A Bank Holiday crowd of more than 31,000 crammed into The Oval for the second day of Surrey's Championship match against Nottinghamshire in August 1925 - "too many for the ground and the police" according to The Times - and as spectators repeatedly spilled onto the pitch, there were constant delays. But the one oddity came when litter, mainly from newspapers, blew across the outfield in the afternoon, causing a significant delay while it was cleared.
Fire
Suffragettes burned down the pavilion at Tunbridge Wells in 1913, but in August 1947 a whole stand caught fire during Sussex's match against title-chasing Gloucestershire at Hove. It was at the end of a scorching summer, and it was reported that play was "slightly delayed" by the blaze in the South Stand which required the attention of two fire crews and "many volunteers with pickaxes and choppers" to bring it under control.
Suffragettes burned down the pavilion at Tunbridge Wells in 1913, but in August 1947 a whole stand caught fire during Sussex's match against title-chasing Gloucestershire at Hove. It was at the end of a scorching summer, and it was reported that play was "slightly delayed" by the blaze in the South Stand which required the attention of two fire crews and "many volunteers with pickaxes and choppers" to bring it under control.
Martin Williamson is executive editor of Cricinfo