16 September, 2019

Climate change is threatening to break cricket apart, from putting players in danger to disrupting matches

When I was in the middle of treatment for cancer a few years ago, the place I’d go for comfort was my local cricket ground.
Matthew Wade scampers a quick single during day four of the England v Australia 5th Ashes test match at The Oval on September 15th 2019 in London (Photo by Tom Jenkins)
“Unless we act, extreme heat will worsen. This will result in
more games being postponed, poorer performance because
 of heat influenced cognitive deterioration and increased
 likelihood of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
One reason I found this place so comforting while being physically and emotionally demolished by chemotherapy were the friendships I’d made from years of playing, coaching and cooking thousands of sausages.
When confronted with a nasty tumour that seemed hellbent on trying to kill me, my cricket club helped keep me sane. The friendships made on and around the ground were the source of love and humour that made it possible for me to withstand a really crap experience.
The game is important to me because I know at its best it unites individuals who then become capable of doing great things together.
Anyone who has seen the Adam Goodes films knows sport is about much more than games. It’s a window into who we are as a community – for good or ill.
At my own community cricket club the game is a glue binding together people born in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, South Africa, England and Australia.
Climate change threatens to break cricket apart.

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