India and NZ cricketers asked to toughen up after sun glare issue
What's the story?
During the 1st ODI match between India and New Zealand at McLean Park, the match was halted because of the setting sun's angle which made batting and fielding too difficult for the players.
However, Napier mayor Bill Dalton has billed the venue for the first ODI as the 'crown jewel of sportsgrounds' and insisted that the sun glare was not reason enough for the cricketers to leave the field.
The background
Hosts New Zealand batted first in the opening game of the 5-match ODI series and put up a total of 157 on the board at the sun-drenched McLean Park. India got off to a solid start in the 2nd innings and looked well set to win the match heading into the dinner break.
However, play was halted after the dinner break because of the sun. The glare from the sun's angle troubled the batsmen by coming right in the line of their view, which forced the on-field umpires to stop the match for about 30 minutes.
The break in the play had very little impact as India went on to win the match after comfortably chasing the revised target by 8 wickets.
The heart of the matter
The on-field umpire Shaun George took the players off field under the rule stating "conditions shall be regarded as dangerous if there is actual and foreseeable risk to players' safety." He affirmed that the setting sun came directly in the line of the eyes of the batsmen. Not just the batsmen Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, even fielders close-in could not see the ball due to the glare.
However, Napier city mayor Bill Dalton insisted, "To be absolutely honest with you, my view is that these guys are sportsmen who play outside. If they get a bit of sun in their eyes that’s part of the game. It’s an outdoor sport and they’ve got to toughen up. It’s all a bit weird to me."
What's next?
The players of both the teams may be seen taking extra care of the sun when they will take the field next in the 2nd ODI on the 26th of January. But there should not be any issues regarding the sun glare at the Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui.
Since this was the only match of the tour which was supposed to be played at McLean Park, the chances of play being further interrupted by the sun are very low.