Natural sunshine as against artificial lights

Richard Dwight

As a background to what is to be dealt with – it’s best from the point of the youngster to provide a brief narrative of the game of cricket. As most if not all of us know, that the game of cricket was founded by England.

That which is pertinent to state, is that it was regarded as a summer game, where the sun shone till 8 pm.

The Aussies too consider it a summer game and so with likeness of mind, a Five Test match series was played in healthy rivalry on a reciprocal basis.

The brightness of the sun, the clear blue skies, the cricketers in their whites or flannels, the staid and spruced spectators against the greens and well nursed wicket, makes it everso splendid to provide a picturesque atmosphere for a Test match. This does not mean that Test matches aren’t interrupted by rain – they are and teams have days to play to take redemptive action to make amends.

A Test match that was played at Lords in 1930 is spoken of as Epic. England had Hobbs, Wolley, Hammond K S Duleepsinji, Hendren, A P F Chapman, G O Allen, Tate, R W V Robins, J C White and Duckworth.

England 1st innings 425 – K S Duleepsinji 173 and 375 - A P F Chapman 121.

Australia had W M Woodful, W H Ponsford, D G Bradman, A F Keppax, S McCabe, V Y Richardson, W A Oldfield, A Fairfax, C V Grimmet,P M Hornibrook and T Wall.

Australia first innings 729 for 6 (W M Woodfall 155, D G Bradman 254) and 2nd innings 72 for 3 and Australia won.

Experience tells us that no venture or endeavour can remain dormant or static.

And so Test cricket though occasionally interrupted by rains, bathed in sunshine continues – which through the years have the one dayers and T/twenty’s, as additional games.

Both limited over games originally were played during the day, but as the games developed it took place from 2.30 pm and ended in the night under lights after the completion of the relevant overs (Overs 50 or 20).

It might be mentioned that in the day time matches, the players have only to contend with the heat – which through the years they are accustomed with and learnt to accept it.

As against this, the night time matches under powerful lights, the bowlers, the batsmen and fielders could be inconvenienced consequent on the dew that prevails.

A good number of lesser known competitive matches of the World Cup, which was played during the day ended decisively – whilst a fair amount of encounters played as day-nighters were interrupted by rain.

A specific case was that of Sri Lanka against England – where Sri Lanka commencing to bat first at 2.30 pm went on to score 146 for 3 and that’s all they could make – for a torrential downpour put an end to play, with England and Sri Lanka sharing a point each.

Not forgetting the vast number of spectators who wouldn’t have got their monies worth. Some are led to say that had they played during the day that a good number of matches would have ended decisively.

It must be borne in mind that either matches played during the day (9.00 am) or night (2.30 pm) are both prone to be interrupted by rain at times.

The bugbear however is the dewy atmosphere created during the night. It could be in the nature of a very mild unseen drizzle.

This incessant soft drizzle, which keeps the greens and the turf moist, does affect the fielders, the bowlers and batsmen. The emerging question then by many, is as to why these D/N matches can’t be played in the morning as well.

By way of explanation it must be said, that an event of this magnitude and nature, was fortunate in having a broad based committee, of a high administrative and organizing ability.

They were duty bound to ensure, that the venues were well geared as scheduled for the matches, arrangements and preparations had to be so co-ordinated for more reasons than one, for the welfare of the players, umpires officials and the players, umpires officials and the spectators who mean much.

The conducting of the World Cup is an arduous task, that becomes hazardous, to be ever so exacting.

Notwithstanding this, the main requirement is to achieve financial stability in the running of this long drawn out tournament.

The TV and advertisers as usual stepped in to financially assist – on condition that they be allowed to telecast during prime time or peak hours ie, 6 pm – 9 pm. The organizers couldn’t help but agree and we have Dewy Day/Night matches.