Nick Hoult via Twitter
For reasons all understand its not currently possible to have spectators at international cricket matches.
Even so the cricket authorities,players and many others have worked enormously hard to make sure that there are Test matches in England this summer that we can watch on TV or listen to on radio.
Its frustrating then that in the Second Test between England and Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl there have been just 96 overs bowled in four days play.
Some of this has been due to poor light or rain but very far from all of it. Somewhere there has been a ‘cant do’ attitude at work. I wouldnt for a moment suggest this is either with the Umpires or groundstaff but somewhere the message has clearly come that getting play if at all possible is not the priority here.
That is a governance issue that will need to be looked at with the ECB and the ICC not least because with all the efforts made by so many and in the current context it puts cricket in a very a bad light as it were.
It does also underline the role of a crowd at cricket. Of course they can enourage and discourage players and teams, be rowdy or nod off. But they also add an element of accountability which reminds those in their own bubble that there is an outside world watching here and what has been seen does not look good.
I was at the Oval in 1968 in the Ashes Test where a downpour held up play and the crowd helped to dry the outfield. That wouldnt happen now but it is a reminder that cricket is game of players, officials and spectators and all need to respect the views of each other.
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