Ridiculous: Ricky Ponting reacts to Joe Root’s suggestion of playing until 10 pm amid rain in Manchester Test

By India Today Sports Desk: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting seems to be not one bit impressed by Joe Root’s suggestions about changing the laws of the game to allow play to be extended till 10pm during rainy days in England in Test cricket. Ponting highlighted that the Manchester Test was not the first time rain played spoilsport in a Test match while adding that he understood England’s frustrations over missing out on an opportunity to clinch a series-leveling victory in the 4th Ashes Test due to wet weather at Old Trafford.

Persistent rain in Manchester led to a drawn match and left England trailing 2-1 in the series with one match remaining. The wet weather on the final day of the test prevented any play, resulting in Australia retaining the Ashes.

England had been in a dominant position at Old Trafford, having built up a 275-run first-innings advantage and taken half of the wickets they needed to secure victory before the weather turned against them. Five of the last six sessions were lost without a ball being bowled, leaving England’s hopes of leveling the series dashed.

‘CAN’T CHANGE THE LAWS’

The frustrating weather conditions led to former England captain Joe Root suggesting that play be extended until 10pm during the English summers to complete overs in the event of rain playing spoilsport. Speaking to BBC’s Test Match Specials, Root questioned why more wasn’t done to prevent overs being lost due to bad weather. He argued that since it doesn’t get dark in England until 10 pm in the summer, play should continue until all the overs are bowled.

“You can’t just choose to change the laws of the game whenever you want to,” Ponting told the ICC.

“I’m sure there have been times when England have wanted to not get back out there and play themselves. I mean, that’s just a ridiculous thing to say.”

England, who had opted to bowl in the 4th Ashes Test, bowled Australia out for 317 before riding on Zak Crawley’s sensational 189 and Jonny Bairstow’s pacey 99 not out to post 592 on the board.

Marnus Labuschagne played his part by hitting a defiant hundred on Day 4, delaying England’s push for a victory.

England will be looking to level the series and prevent Australia from winning the Test series when the two teams meet in the 5th Test at The Oval in London.