The opening day of the pink-ball Test between India and Australia at Adelaide Oval provided plenty of action, both on and off the field. While the cricketing battle tilted in favor of the hosts by stumps, an unusual interruption caused by floodlight malfunctions stole the spotlight during the final session.
Floodlight Fiasco Sparks Laughter
The floodlights went off twice during the 18th over of Australia’s innings, leaving players and commentators baffled. The first outage occurred after the second ball of the over, followed by another blackout just two balls later. The unexpected events sparked amusement among the commentary team and the crowd, although Indian pacer Harshit Rana, who was preparing to bowl, was visibly frustrated by the interruptions.
Fans in the stands turned the moment into a celebration, lighting up the stadium with their mobile phone flashlights. Meanwhile, commentators Mark Waugh, Harsha Bhogle, and David Warner couldn’t hold back their laughter as they joked about the situation.
Mark Waugh quipped, “Oh hello. They’ve run out of electricity in Adelaide. Pretty hot today. Plenty of air conditioners on,” while Harsha Bhogle added, “Someone’s fallen asleep, so we have to wait. It’s a first for me, a Test match being stopped because the lights are gone. Is anyone there?”
Responding to Bhogle, Waugh noted, “I don’t think I’ve seen this in Australia before.”
Humor in the Commentary Box
As the lights returned, Bhogle humorously remarked, “The lights are on again. Someone just turned the switch back on.” David Warner joined in the banter, joking that the bills hadn’t been paid, which led to the blackout.
Adding to the humor, Kerry O’Keefe joked that he saw Australia’s regular nightwatchman, Nathan Lyon, near the switchboard, possibly trying to avoid being called to bat if another wicket fell late in the day.
Australia Dominate Day 1
Despite the unexpected stoppages, Australia ended Day 1 in a strong position at 86/1, trailing India by 94 runs. Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney were at the crease and looked comfortable as they prepared to resume on Day 2.
Earlier in the day, India struggled against a fiery Mitchell Starc, who claimed six wickets for just 48 runs, helping bowl the visitors out for 180. The match began dramatically with Starc dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal on the very first delivery, setting the tone for a challenging day for India.
With Australia gaining an early advantage, the second day promises more intense cricketing action as India looks to fight back.
