ECB confirm revised start times for England vs Pakistan third Test as part of 'flexible approach' after delays

Cricket has moved swiftly to counter the bad light issue that blighted last week’s drawn second Test between England and Pakistan, with a “flexible approach” to start times for the final match of the series, which begins on Friday.

Just 134.3 overs were possible across five days of rain and bad light at the Ageas Bowl, making it the shortest Test in England since 1987.

Both the match officials and playing conditions were criticised as it was felt that more play was lost than was necessary, while senior figures at the ECB and broadcasters Sky were furious.

Led by match referee Chris Broad of the ICC, England and Pakistan have agreed to amend the playing conditions for the final match of the series.

If play is lost to poor weather, Broad will meet the ground staff and ECB match manager with the option to begin play 30 minutes early the following day, with an extended morning session running from 10.30am until 1pm. The day would last 90 overs and could run until 7pm.

The situation would then be discussed on a rolling day-by-day basis throughout the match, depending on how much time is lost and taking the weather forecast into account.

The ECB say they will look into applying such changes to future Tests in England, although it is considerably easier this summer with all players, officials and broadcasters staying on site in a bio-secure bubble and no fans able to access the ground.

This is a small but sensible step as cricket in England grapples with how to bring its weather regulations, particularly around bad light, into the 21st century.

The ICC will discuss the issue at the next meeting of its Cricket Committee, chaired by Anil Kumble, and more significant change could then be introduced.

In the build-up to the final Test of the series, with England leading 1-0, poor weather has remained an issue for the teams, who were forced to train indoors on Wednesday due to torrential downpours, and the ground staff, who have been denied access to the pitch as it lay under covers.

They returned to work on Thursday on what is set to be a fresh pitch, not the one used for the last Test.

England are due to name an unchanged 14-man squad for the match. Coach Chris Silverwood said on Wednesday that “all options are on the table” for selection of the XI, which may not be decided until Friday morning given the uncertainty around conditions.

Chris Woakes' fitness will be assessed, but all-rounder Sam Curran’s place appears the most at risk, with Jofra Archer more likely than Mark Wood to come into the side.

Curran’s superior batting helps his cause, and England could decide to leave out spinner Dom Bess, who has not bowled at all in two of the last three Tests.