Stuart Broad has criticised the decision to call an end to the fourth day's play at The Oval an hour before the scheduled close, stating that the supporters "deserved to see a finish" to the fifth England v India Test match today (August 3).
The former England fast bowler criticised the decision to call stumps before 6pm local time, meaning that the match will go into a fifth day. Both teams still have a chance of victory, with England needing 35 runs to win and India four wickets (if Chris Woakes bats despite his injured shoulder). The players were taken off the field for bad light in the evening session, shortly before a heavy rain shower caused the ground staff to bring the full covers on.
The shower didn't last long, however, with sunshine breaking out over the gound and play scheduled to go on until 6:42pm local time, with the extra half hour also available after that. However, with standing water on the covers, the umpires called time on the day with almost an hour left until the last point at which the players could have taken the field.
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Broad: 'Everyone has their sunglasses on at the train station'
Broad, part of the broadcast commentary team for the match, criticised the decision not to leave more time to clear the water off the pitch and get play underway. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), he said: "Still 20 mins away from possible start time, everyone has their sunglasses on at the train station. Felt [like] the supporters deserved to see a finish to that Test Match today. Felt a lazy decision to call it off at 6pm in my opinion. I wonder who makes it?"
Still 20 mins away from possible start time, everyone has their sunglasses on at the train station. Felt the supporters deserved to see a finish to that Test Match today. Felt a lazy decision to call it off at 6pm in my opinion. I wonder who makes it?
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 3, 2025
Despite there being sunshine over The Oval from 6pm, until well after the scheduled close, the standing water on the covers remained significant. Before the umpires called stumps, members of the ground staff looked to be warning the umpires about the standing water, and how long it would take to clear.
It's not the first time the ground staff have come under scrutiny in the series, with head grounds man Lee Fortis involved in a controversy with India head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the match. Gambhir reacted heatedly to Fortis requesting that he stand further away from the strip when examining it before the game.
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