'It Doesn’t Get Dark Here In England Until 10pm...': Joe Root Reconsidering Test Cricket's Cut-Off Times

England opener, Joe Root. (AP Photo)

Joe Root has expressed his concerns about the lack of measures taken to prevent overs being lost in Test cricket. During the heavily weather-affected Ashes game at Old Trafford, England faced the possibility of failing to regain the trophy. While the inclement weather was a significant factor, an additional setback came from the loss of 26 overs over the first three days due to slow over rates.

A typical day of Test cricket involves 90 overs of play, with a scheduled finish at 6:00 pm for Tests in England. An extra half-hour is usually allotted to compensate for slow over rates, but any overs not bowled by 6:30 pm local time are permanently lost.

Speaking to BBC's Test Match Special on the morning of day five, Root questioned the absence of greater flexibility in the playing schedule to ensure that overs are not lost due to slow over rates.

“It doesn’t get dark here in England until 10pm in the summer, why can’t we just play until we bowl the overs?” he said.

“There’s been a lot of chat about not bowling the overs. There are so many different ways of trying to find opportunities to get as much play in as possible. At every opportunity at every stage you should be looking to find ways to get the Test on. We batted in worse conditions at Edgbaston, but that is cricket. You just want consistency in those conditions.”

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Usman Khawaja's involvement has played a part in the ICC's decision to ease the penalties for slow over rates during the series. As a result of his influence, the financial fines for players have been reduced, and it has become easier for them to avoid any punishment altogether.

Previously, players were fined 20 per cent of their match fee for each over their team fell short, but now the fine has been reduced to five per cent. Additionally, the limit for innings shorter than 60 overs, which did not count towards a team's poor over rate, has been extended to 80 overs.

In the event that the Test at Emirates Old Trafford ends in a draw, Australia will retain the Ashes.