Boxing Day Test: Third umpire gets stuck in lift, delays start of second session at MCG | AUS vs PAK
The afternoon session of day three of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan in Melbourne was delayed due to the third umpire getting stuck in a lift.
In a bizarre situation, play was halted for six minutes after lunch as third umpire Richard Illingworth got stuck in an elevator at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
As on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough were about to resume the match after lunch, they were informed about their colleague’s absence upstairs. Illingworth got trapped in one of the lifts at the venue and was unable to return to his seat on time.
Reserve umpire Phillip Gillespie rushed into the third umpire’s box to fill in for the unavailable Englishman. David Warner, left stranded at the crease with Australia at 6-2, burst into laughter, while his partner, Steve Smith, was heard asking a bewildered Wilson whether he could sit down until his colleague arrived.
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 unusual delay left Wasim Akram, who was commentating for Fox Cricket, in splits: “Again? It happened a couple of days ago, somebody got stuck in the lift here.
“I can understand this happening in our part of the world, getting stuck in the lift, but over here? I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Akram quipped.
Match paused at the MCG due to the 3rd umpire being stuck in the lift.
David Warner couldn't control his laugh after knowing this. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/RaoGNdDo2O
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 28, 2023
Fortunately, Illingworth could escape the elevator and was seen waving at his fellow umpires after six minutes before the second session resumed.
It was a busy day for fourth umpire Gillespie as he had to briefly stand for Wilson as an on-field umpire later in the session when the latter left the field for an over.
Australia finished the second session at 107-4 after suffering an early collapse which pushed them back to 16-4.
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