The Boxing Day Test at the MCG took a surreal turn on day three when a seemingly routine lunch break stretched into a bizarre delay. Australia, riding the wave of Pat Cummins’ five-wicket haul, had Pakistan on the ropes at 264 all out, trailing by 54 runs. But the momentum came to a screeching halt as the second session’s start was inexplicably delayed.
The reason, as it turned out, wasn’t a tactical masterstroke or a dramatic rain squall. No, it was far less glamorous, yet strangely endearing: the third umpire, Richard Illingworth, was stuck in the lift. News of his predicament spread like wildfire, with Cricket Australia breaking the ice on microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) with a succinct, “The game is delayed because the third umpire… is stuck in the lift #AUSvPAK.”
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
Commentators erupted in laughter as cameras panned to Illingworth finally making his way to his seat, the TV umpire himself chuckling at the absurdity of the situation. This lighthearted moment, however, couldn’t mask the shift in momentum Pakistan had orchestrated.
A wild Richard Illingworth appeared! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/7Rsqci4whn
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 28, 2023
After lunch, the visitors, fueled by Mir Hamza’s fiery spell, ripped through Australia’s top order. Warner, looking for a pull shot, edged the ball onto his stumps for a golden duck, while Travis Head followed suit next delivery, clean bowled by a fuller Hamza delivery. Suddenly, Australia, who were cruising at 60 for 2, found themselves staring at a precarious position.
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The day, though, had begun with Cummins’ heroics. The Aussie skipper scythed through Pakistan’s batting order, claiming his 10th five-wicket haul in Tests to give Australia a slender first-innings lead.
But Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan’s pace spearhead, responded with a two-wicket burst in the second innings, sending back Khawaja and Labuschagne for ducks. With the lead down to 54 and Australia wobbling at 2 for 6, the Boxing Day Test had truly come alive.
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All eyes were now on the remainder of the day’s play, as both teams battled for supremacy amidst the lingering echo of the “lift incident.” Would Australia weather the storm or would Pakistan capitalize on their newfound momentum? The answer, like the man himself, was still stuck in the elevator, waiting to be revealed.
