Cricket

WATCH: Lift fiasco puts 3rd umpire Richard Illingworth in the spotlight during MCG Test

A rare occurrence took place during today's play as Richard Illingworth, the third umpire, found himself in the spotlight. It was a light-hearted moment in the midst of what is a highly competitive Test match.

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Sarah Andrew
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It was a hilarious momnet for everyone- players and spectators alike.

The third umpire gets stuck in the lift

After the bowlers had done a remarkable job in the first innings, Pakistan's batters squandered the advantage as they were bowled out for just 264 in the first innings. This after being well-placed at 124-2 at one point in time. The score could have been much lesser had it not been for a counter-attacking knock by Mohammad Rizwan and vital contributions by Aamer Jamal and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Despite conceding a lead of 54 runs, the Pakistani bowlers showed a lot of heart and character in the second innings as they destroyed the home team, reducing them to 16-4. Afridi and Mir Hamza were the ones who inflicted the damage as the likes of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, David Warner and Travis were sent back to the sheds in that order. 

However, the pair of Steven Smith and Mitchell Marsh have steadied things with an unbeaten 105-run stand to take Australia's lead to 175. The Pakistani bowlers need to strike soon as it will not be easy to chase in the fourth innings. Moreover, their batters have not inspired too much confidence on this tour.

Lift malfunction halts plays

Cricket fans at the Boxing Day Test were treated to a dose of the unexpected after lunch – not a flurry of sixes, but a missing third umpire. Richard Illingworth found himself in a rather earthly predicament: stuck in a lift. As players and on-field umpires returned from their break, confusion filled the air as Illingworth's familiar figure remained absent from the third umpire's box. Cricket Australia confirmed the bizarre delay with a tweet.

After a few anxious minutes, Illingworth emerged, slightly frazzled but sporting his signature cheer. A video posted by Cricket Australia captured the moment, showing Illingworth greeting the crowd with a sheepish wave as he finally reached his post. This unexpected twist added a dash of lighthearted drama to the day's proceedings, reminding us that even amidst the high-stakes world of Test cricket, sometimes the biggest challenge can be conquering a malfunctioning elevator.

Watch the video below:

 

AUSvsPAK Richard Illingworth