When is a day-nighter simply a ''nighter''? When you're still playing at 1.45 in the morning, that's when. Australia will face this strange situation in their limited-overs series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates next month.
Michael Clarke's one-day squad has spent the past three days in the north-east of England trying to stay warm and dry in dire weather. That will be the least of the players' concerns when they arrive on the Persian Gulf to temperatures stretching to well in excess of 40 degrees.
Australia's three one-day internationals against Pakistan - two in Sharjah, one in Abu Dhabi - have been set down for a 6pm start to bypass the heat. The catch is the scheduled finish - almost 2am, a time usually dedicated to the pillow, not the willow, or for some, a late-night kebab rather than post-match rehab. The itinerary, announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board has created consternation with the Australian players' union, which was already troubled about the heat and now has safety concerns about the playing hours.
Former Australian batsman Dean Jones argues the early-morning finish is a pragmatic solution for climatic and broadcasting reasons. ''I think it's pretty wise,'' said Jones, who played one-day cricket for Australia at Sharjah.
Advertisement
''They mightn't get that many people there anyway because it's that hot. Obviously the major problem with playing there and that time is the heat. They're trying to look after the players. I think we've got to just get over it and play.''
Jones remembers well the Test Australia played against Pakistan at Sharjah almost a decade ago,with Matthew Hayden and Shane Warne starring, and the temperature edging above 50 degrees. Hayden, at the time, described it as batting in an oven.
Jones himself famously battled scorching, oppressive conditions in playing one of the greatest Test innings by an Australian in the second tied Test at Chennai in 1987. With the urging of captain Allan Border, he batted on despite the onset of dehydration, diarrhoea and vomiting to accumulate 210 in suffocating heat and humidity before being rushed to hospital afterwards. Jones lost 7 kilograms during the innings and it took him nine months to regain the weight.
He insists, though, that the hottest conditions he has experienced have been in the UAE.
Cricket Australia will send an advance party to the country next week after the one-day tour of England winds up with the fifth match at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Australian Cricketers' Association boss Paul Marsh, meanwhile, has made clear his reservations about the heat during the August-September period in the region, as well as the early-morning finish.
0 comments:
Post a Comment