Four instances when cricket matches in 2017 were delayed due to unusual circumstances

Cricket is a game of uncertainties. Apart from the game itself, there have been a few instances when the game of cricket has been delayed or players have been forced to leave the field mid-way due to bizarre reasons.

Rain, bad light and storms amongst others have interrupted many a cricket match in the last few decades. However, 2017 has seen cricket matches being interrupted due to the strangest of reasons. Here is a look at five such bizarre reasons:

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#4 Bee attack

An ODI between South Africa and Sri Lanka at the Wanderers in Johannesburg was interrupted for more than an hour due to a swarm of bees invading the ground on 4th February, 2017. The Sri Lankan batsmen, the South African fielders and the umpires had to lie down flat on the ground in order to avoid being attacked.

The ground staff tried various techniques, including using two fire extinguishers, to ensure that the bees were taken off the pitch. In the end, a hive was manufactured which ensured that the bees were captured and the game resumed after almost 65 minutes.

#3 Delhi smog

Sri Lankan cricketers wearing masks after lunch on day two at Delhi

The ongoing third Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi was interrupted for about 15 minutes on the second day due to the presence of smog. Many of the Sri Lankan cricketers including their skipper Dinesh Chandimal wore masks on the cricket field after lunch on the second day to counter the pollution.

Sri Lankan bowler Lahiru Gamage began coughing while bowling which led to the Sri Lankan skipper Chandimal lodging a complaint with the on-field umpires i.e. Nigel Llong from England and Joel Wilson from West Indies. The game had to be stopped for 15 minutes after which, on the insistence of the umpires and the Indian players, the match resumed.

#2 Traffic

.@Gloscricket might be a bit late lads.. ?????????#GLOvSOM pic.twitter.com/S9U9vclqhv

— Somerset Cricket ? (@SomersetCCC) August 4, 2017

Traffic may have caused people to miss their flights, trains, buses etc, however, a game of cricket being delayed due to traffic was unheard of until August 2017. A T-20 game was scheduled between Somerset and Gloucestershire at 6:30 pm at Bristol County Ground. Though the Somerset team began their journey to the ground at 2 pm, the bus got stuck in traffic due to an accident which led to them arriving over four and a half hours late.

The game started at 7:15 pm i.e. 45 minutes after it was scheduled to begin.

#1 Car on the pitch

A Ranji game between Delhi and UP had to be halted for more than 20 minutes after a man drove a car onto the pitch

The most bizarre interruption of a game in 2017 came when a man drove his car on to the cricket pitch when Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were battling it out in a Ranji Trophy encounter in Palam on 3rd November, 2017. It is believed that the security guard was not at his station when the incident took place.

After investigations were conducted, the police arrived at the conclusion that the driver was mentally unstable and hence no formal complaint was lodged. Cricketers like Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, Suresh Raina etc were on the field when this incident occurred.