Ashes 2023: Stuart Broad acted quickly to cut short a delay on the first day of the Old Trafford Test, asking several spectators to switch seats to block a reflection from the stands that was causing issues for Australia’s batters.

Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner were in the middle when the stoppage occurred, about an hour into play. While Australia have often had to bat under cloudy skies this series, this time the sun was the issue, with a metal bar underneath a row of seats catching the light and shining into the eyes of the batters in the middle.

“What are they gonna do? You can’t bat,” said Labuschagne.

“Why don’t we just go down there and do something?” suggested Warner.

“Do you want me to ask if they’ll move back?” replied Broad.

Broad then jogged to the boundary to request some of the spectators to temporarily switch seats to cover up the problematic panel.

“There’s a consensus wondering if we can gather a group of people to sit five rows back,” he said. “If we could fill the back three rows with people it might stop the reflection. It’s worth a go.”

After directing traffic, Broad turned back to the middle, where a thumbs up from umpire Nitin Menon indicated that he had been successful

“If we get him out, you can all move again,” quipped Broad.

Warner was indeed out soon after, though not to Broad, who has regularly had his number, but to Chris Woakes, edging behind.

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