Confusion between Smith and umpires led to extra time

A breakdown in communication between the umpires and Australia captain Steven Smith has emerged as the reason an extra eight overs were bowled on the fourth evening at the Gabba. Smith has confirmed that his preference was to finish play at the scheduled stumps time to allow his bowlers a chance to recover, but the umpires allocated extra time based on an earlier conversation with Smith.

The ICC’s Test match playing condition 16.2.1 states that “the umpires may decide to play an extra 30 minutes (a minimum of eight overs) extra time at the end of any day (other than the last day) if requested by either captain, if in the umpire’s opinion, it would bring about a definite result on that day”. However, Smith said he did not officially request the extra time from umpires Ian Gould and Richard Illingworth.

The ICC said in a statement on Monday evening that: “The umpires believed they were acting on a request from Steve Smith, based on a conversation with him about the granting of extra time a few overs before the scheduled end of play. It is the umpires’ decision as to whether to agree to the request, and the guide for umpires is that a team should be at least seven wickets down before such a request should be granted.”

Pakistan were seven wickets down at the scheduled stumps time of 9.30pm, which was already 90 minutes later than usual due to rain earlier in the day.

“Early on in the day, I sort of said ‘it’s great that we have that extra half hour up our sleeve if we need it’,” Smith said after the match. “And then later on, Gunner Gould was pretty adamant that he wanted to sort of stay out there and try and get the game over and done with. …

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