Why star commentators weren’t happy with ‘Match Officials’ decision in IND vs ENG 5th Test?

The fifth and final Test between India and England is shaping up to be a nail-biting finish. Starting Day 4, India looked in control, with England still needing 324 runs to win and only one wicket down.

However, England staged a strong fightback through key partnerships that kept the chase alive. The hosts steadily chipped away at the target, frustrating the Indian bowlers with a composed batting display.

As the day neared its end, England were just 35 runs away from victory with three wickets remaining. But play was halted early due to poor light and rain, leaving the outcome hanging in the balance. The star commentators weren’t happy with this pause at the end.

See Also: Weather forecast for Day 05 of ENG vs IND 5th Test at Kennington Oval

Commentators Take Dig at ‘Match Officials’ Decision:

Rain paused the final session of the final Test, leading the umpires to send the players back to the pavilion. With conditions not improving, stumps were declared early, pushing the match into a decisive fifth and final day.

Experienced commentators Nasser Hussain and Dinesh Karthik questioned the umpires' decision to call stumps before time. They felt the game, which was building up to a thrilling finish, should have continued and reached its conclusion in front of a full crowd at the stadium.

On Sky Sports, Nasser Hussain said, “ Most importantly for viewers and fans who paid good money, remember Monday is a workday, and this sort of series deserves a finale in front of a big crowd at an iconic cricket ground, the Oval. That would have been some finale on Sunday, you may have just knocked off 35, or you may have seen Chris Woakes walk downstairs in a sling. I'm just wondering if they could have done anything, they had like 42-43 minutes to play with and within the laws and the playing regulations.”

He further said, “ If the groundsman had said no, we can't get the covers off in that time, the umpires would have to call stumps. I'm just wondering, you do have the option of the extra half hour, don't you? If you feel you can get result at 7.30, if there was 10 to win, the umpires would have given the team the extra half hour, I was just wondering if you could give the extra half hour at 6:42 (11:12 PM IST) and say to the teams, it has to come from the teams.”

Agreeing with Nasser Hussain, Dinesh Karthik also expressed disappointment over the early end to the day’s play. He remarked that the match officials should have applied some “common sense” before making such a decision, especially with the match so finely poised.

Karthik said, “ Little bit of rain, and I agree the rules are the rules, but I kind of like what Nasser said, that half an hour extension that you get meant, even if it meant it needed to start at 6.45, it could well have been 11, 12 hours, it could have gone either way, the crowd would have gotten to see the result, and it's a nice feeling to know that both teams have gone so hard, you give them the option, they don't want to use it, fair enough, everybody's going to come back tomorrow for whatever it's worth, but today, I think a little bit more common sense would have been to ask, I'm not saying it should happen, to ask I think is the fair thing to do.”