Indian pacer Harshit Rana was left frustrated as floodlights lost power during the third session of Day 1's play at Adelaide Oval. The floodlights went off twice during the last session leading to a halt play. While power supply was considered as the initial reason behind the floodlights losing power but it isn't the case.
"The ground control room at the top of the Western Stand received a request for the net lights to be turned on for a throwdown session as Australia’s top order battled India," the Sydney Morning Herald said in a report.
All the lights at the Adelaide Oval are computer-operated. When the light at nets were turned on for throwdowns to the nightwatchman, it affected the floodlights as well.
“I can confirm there was no lack of power supply or availability in South Australia,” state Labor MP Tom Koutsantonis posted on social media on December 6. “Whatever caused the light towers at Adelaide Oval to turn off was not related to a lack of power supply from the Grid.”
The first time lights went off it lasted 28 seconds. The second one lasted even longer. During the 86-second delay, fans turned on their phone's flashlight as players gathered in the ground.
“They went out to turn on the net lights so the nightwatchmen could have a couple of throw downs, and somehow either turned them to wrong thing or something tripped,” a source told the Australian daily. “It was about trying to get the net lights on.”
Australia's left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc was sitting in the dressing room after six-wicket haul when the lights went off
“It was quite unusual for it to go out twice in a short space of time,” Starc said.
However, Australia did not need the services of their nightwatchman as opener Natham McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne held the fort.
Cricket Australia (CA) shared a statement from Adelaide Oval's Stadium Management authority as well.
“We had a brief internal switching issue that was quickly identified and rectified,” the statement said.
