Broad and Ben Stokes battled to tip 130kph on the speed gun. With the horse long bolted, England finally selected the best bowling attack available to it, ignoring whatever mad scientist suggested playing James Anderson and Stuart Broad as soon and as often as their bodies allowed was a bad idea.īut the juice was missing. The whole scene made for a weary, sluggish opening to the day's play, which truth be told didn't need any greater excuse for a sleep in. ( Getty: Steven Markham/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire) Marcus Harris and Marnus Labuschagne at the crease together. It may be fighting against the rising of the tide, because the only thing more wedded to tradition than the SCG Test is the game of Test cricket itself, but there must be a better way. I know they can't help the rain, but this tea break is totally unwarranted". The frustration is most keenly felt by those in the stands who have paid to watch a dry, empty cricket field for the day.Īs one person submitted to the ABC Sport blog, "I'm in the Brewongle stand with my son at his first test. Those showers cleared, but by the time the bell had rung to end recess the rain had returned. The case was the same during both the lunch and tea breaks, taken earlier due to brief showers. Throughout the hour pre- and post-toss there was no rain at all, yet within a few overs the players were forced off again. It was a day where Test cricket became victim yet again of its own inflexibility, as the steadfast refusal to deviate from rules and schedules devised decades ago came at the expense of the game being played.Īn early morning downpour pushed the toss and subsequently the start of play back half an hour. Ben Stokes departs during another rain delay.