Australia vs Pakistan: Second Test delayed after third umpire gets stuck in lift

Play was held up in the second Test between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) because the third umpire Richard Illingworth was stuck in a lift. The bizarre, yet hilarious, scene unravelled in the second session at the MCG when players returned from the lunch break. As everyone took their place at the 1:25 pm start to the second session, umpires stopped the bowlers and batters to get proceedings underway. With Australia 6/2 and David Warner, Steve Smith in the middle, Pakistan were stopped from attempting to make further inroads with the hosts leading by 60 runs. After a few minutes, Phil Gillespie, the fourth umpire, scramed from the boundary into the third umpire’s box so that play could resume. Illingworth made his way to his position a few moments later, giving a light-hearted wave as he sat down. Cricket Australia and the MCG both psted light-hearted responses to the peculiar delay, which lasted seven minutes.

The game is delayed because the third umpire ... is stuck in the lift #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/eSuKyPQp56

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 28, 2023

“The game is delayed because the third umpire…is stuck in the lift,” Cricket Australia’s social media arm posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Sorry. https://t.co/fh7EHBJxFr

— Melbourne Cricket Ground (@MCG) December 28, 2023

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The MCG was quick to reply: “Sorry.”