Adelaide: An Australian team request for an evening hit in the Adelaide Oval nets led to the bizarre spectacle of the ground’s new LED lights going out twice in an over on the first night of the day/night Test.
According to three sources with knowledge of events, the ground control room at the top of the Western Stand received a request for the net lights to be turned on for a throwdown session as Australia’s top order battled India.
Dark days: The lights went out at Adelaide Oval.Credit: Getty Images
But when the computer-operated light settings were adjusted, the ground’s four light towers went out instead, stunning a crowd of 50,186 and leading to conspiracy theories about South Australia’s reliance on renewable energy for electricity.
“I can confirm there was no lack of power supply or availability in South Australia,” state Labor MP Tom Koutsantonis posted on social media last night. “Whatever caused the light towers at Adelaide Oval to turn off was not related to a lack of power supply from the Grid.”
A few moments after turning on again, the lights went out again, as controllers tried to get the net lighting on for the Australian team.
“They went out to turn on the net lights so the nightwatchmen could have a couple of throw downs, and somehow either turned them to wrong thing or something tripped,” a source said. “It was about trying to get the net lights on.”
The first delay lasted 28 seconds at 8.52pm local time, while the second lasted 86 seconds at 8.54pm as fans offered their phone lights as a generous but ineffective alternative in the hope they would not be deprived of watching the final hour of play.
“Very frustrating for the umpires and the players,” said former international umpire Simon Taufel on Seven’s coverage. “They will be having their concentration and routines broken like everyone else and having to refocus and get back on the job as quickly as possible.”
Ultimately, the computer settings were tweaked so that both net lights and the ground’s main floodlights could be switched on at the same time.
Mitchell Starc said: “It was quite unusual for it to go out twice in a short space of time.”
The irony of the moment was that the new LED lights allowed for a quick resumption of play, when their predecessors would have taken around 20 minutes to power back up, likely forcing the players from the field.
Adelaide Oval at twilight.Credit: AP
Adelaide Oval installed the LED lighting at a cost of $5 million in December 2023, after a debate between stakeholders about the merits of the new technology.
“Adelaide Oval has a well-earned reputation as a world-class events and entertainment destination and this upgrade goes a long way to keeping us at the forefront of stadia globally,” Adelaide Oval CEO Nick Addison said at the time.
“We are committed to continually reinvesting in our fan experience to ensure it’s the best it can be, while also delivering on our goals across technology and sustainability.
“The opportunities this opens up are really exciting – both in terms of giving fans an electric event day experience and helping us attract new and different events to South Australia.”
Indian pace bowler Harshit Rana appeared to be annoyed by the delay, but there were no further issues, even if Australia’s batsmen may have been happy to go off early and come back to bat in sunshine on Saturday afternoon.
Cricket Australia shared a statement from Adelaide Oval’s Stadium Management authority, which said: “We had a brief internal switching issue that was quickly identified and rectified.”
