ENGLAND will have their ODI clash against South Africa HALTED mid-match.
Harry Brook and Co are in action on Sunday, September 7 at the Utilita Bowl in the final game of the series.
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South Africa won the opening contest with a seven-wicket victory after bowling England out for just 131 after 24.3 overs.
And in the second match, South Africa beat England by five runs to win the ODI series.
The third and final game is a dead rubber, but it will see a delay to action due to an emergency alert test on everybody’s phones.
Why will England vs South Africa be delayed?
The government are planning to send a loud siren to mobiles and tablets across the nation on Sunday at 3pm.
But do not panic, as the emergency alert you will see and hear will only be a test.
It will come through even if your phone is on silent.
The alarm will go off for around ten seconds.
The plan is for the cricket to be paused at 3pm to ensure it does not distract the players.
What have the English Cricket Board said?
An ECB spokesperson said: “Plans are in place to ensure fans attending the Utilita Bowl on Sunday are aware of the national test of the emergency alerts system, which is due to take place during the third England Men’s Metro Bank ODI vs South Africa.
“We will work with match officials ahead of the game and take appropriate action depending on the state of the game.
“Fans will be kept updated with in-stadia announcements as the game progresses.”
Why is the alert test happening?
The government are testing the system as they believe it “serves a crucial purpose in keeping the public safe”.
It is used in extreme circumstances when to warn people of a danger to life.
You may remember when it was tested before on April 23, 2023.
Since the initial test, FIVE real alerts during major storms have been sent to those needed.
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