 Joe Root believes more can be done to ensure bad weather does not disrupt cricket matches, even suggesting play should be allowed to continue late into the evening to avoid washouts. England are currently praying for a weather miracle as rain continues to fall at Old Trafford on the fifth and final day of the fourth Test, with play yet to start on Sunday. After a brief break in the rain and several pitch inspections, lunch was taken early and play scheduled to commence at 1pm – only for the heavens to immediately open once again. If the Test is drawn, Australia will retain the Ashes despite England having a commanding position in the match, with Brendon McCullum's side currently 61 runs ahead and in need of just five more wickets. There has been plenty of criticism of the decision to take lunch on Sunday during the only, brief dry spell, as well as continuing to start at 11am earlier in the Test despite bad weather being forecast, and Root feels cricket's authorities need to be more adaptable when it comes to scheduling. Asked if more could be done to get play on, Root told BBC Sport: 'It doesn't get dark here in England until 10pm in the summer, why can't we just play until we bowl the overs? 'There's been a lot of chat about not bowling the overs. There are so many different ways of trying to find opportunities to get as much play in as possible. The covers have been on for most of the day at Old Trafford (Picture: Reuters) 'At every opportunity at every stage you should be looking to find ways to get the Test on. We batted in worse conditions at Edgbaston, but that is cricket. You just want consistency in those conditions.' Frustratingly, rules dictate that there must be 30 minutes without any rain before a pitch inspection and then 45 minutes of no rain after that before play can start, meaning dry spells can come and go without any play. At one point in Saturday's short-lived action, Eng){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Joe Root believes more can be done to ensure bad weather does not disrupt cricket matches, even suggesting play should be allowed to continue late into the evening to avoid washouts.
England are currently praying for a weather miracle as rain continues to fall at Old Trafford on the fifth and final day of the fourth Test, with play yet to start on Sunday.
After a brief break in the rain and several pitch inspections, lunch was taken early and play scheduled to commence at 1pm – only for the heavens to immediately open once again.
If the Test is drawn, Australia will retain the Ashes despite England having a commanding position in the match, with Brendon McCullum’s side currently 61 runs ahead and in need of just five more wickets.