Lights out during Adelaide Test: Nathan Lyon reveals reason behind delay

Nathan Lyon has revealed the hilarious reason behind the lights going out during the Adelaide Test between Australia and India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In an unusual incident at the Adelaide Oval, the floodlight towers malfunctioned twice during the 18th over of Australia’s innings on Day 1 of the pink-ball Test. The disruptions occurred in the evening session, causing brief delays.

Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana, who was mid-over when the lights failed for the second time, visibly showed his frustration. Meanwhile, the on-air commentators found humour in the situation, which seemed to annoy the Indian players, eager to capitalise on the crucial twilight period to take wickets.

“It looks like someone has turned off the switch,” one of the commentators remarked as the floodlights flickered back on within a minute of the second outage. Well, it seems like that was the case as Lyon revealed his side of the story.

The Australia spinner said that he was supposed to be the night watchman for his side in the match and had gone out to the nets with the assistant coach to get a couple of hits in. Lyon revealed that he told the security if he could switch on the lights in the nets and the next thing he saw was the ground going dark.

“Yes, I can believe that. I was with our assistant coach sitting out there in the dark. I asked the security guy if he could switch on the lights in the middle it would be great. And in the next minute, it (the whole ground) went off. And I said to Boroughs (assistance coach) ‘he hit the wrong switch’. He said ‘nah’ and then we sat in the dark for 15 minutes in nets waiting to take a hit,” said Lyon.

Lyon wasn’t needed as the night watchman during the match in the end, as Australia won in Adelaide by 10 wickets to level the series. The spinner still continues to be in the side for the Brisbane Test as India won the toss and opted to field first.