Cricket and Rain - What to do about it?

[iPakistani]

Will Cricket ever change or adapt to be played in any weather situation, if it rains heavily football matches continue, fans aren’t left upset.

However if it drizzles even a tiny bit a cricket match is stopped. I have a club match tomorrow and I see on the forecast it’s raining all day, this is very disappointing to see that there’s no way I can play cricket tomorrow.
However I’m playing football tonight and at that time there will be some showers but I know we will 100% play.

What do you guys think? Can cricket ever adapt to deal with the climate? Maybe retractable roofs or if its showering play continues. Or do you think rain adds to the history and enjoyment of cricket, and there’s simply no cost effective solution we have to deal with it.

 

[gazza619]

I am afraid it becomes very unfair on bowlers when it rains heavily.

Whereas in football everything is even.

I cannot see a solution really other than indoor stadiums.

 

[PakLFC]

Bring in inexpensive roofs or only walk off only if rain is too heavy. Going off for bad light or light rain is unacceptable in this day and age.

 

[CadPakFan]

I've thought about retractable roofs would be a good idea but I doubt anyone would invest the time or money in that at the moment unless someone thinks of a really good and cost effecient design. I could see Indoor stadiums being used, I'm pretty sure there is a ground in Australia that is Indoor but I'm not sure if that has been used in a long time.

 

[Chokli]

Conditions play a huge role in Cricket, can't do anything other than accept it.

 

[PakLFC]

Conditions play a huge role in Cricket, can't do anything other than accept it.

This is why the Sport is not growing anywhere. It is to dependent on weather.

 

[Chokli]

This is why the Sport is not growing anywhere. It is to dependent on weather.

If it's going to grow it's only going to grow in the T20 format.

 

[PakLFC]

If it's going to grow it's only going to grow in the T20 format.

Perhaps so. Then again compared to other Sports there is not much money to be made in Cricket outside India and may be Australia.

 

[Sher Khan]

The MCG has a retractable roof. It was used back in that 2006 world xi Vs aus match. I remember ball hit the roof and they had to give it as a six.

 

[NauV]

The MCG has a retractable roof. It was used back in that 2006 world xi Vs aus match. I remember ball hit the roof and they had to give it as a six.

Its not the MCG. Melbourne has another stadium "Docklands" that has a roof.

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

It is very annoying whenever the umpires take everyone off whenever there is a little bit of bad light or rain. Bad light shouldn't be much of an excuse... The batsmen can deal with it if the bowlers have to deal with 55-60m boundaries. As for rain, if heavy rain is forecasted for the first day or first few days of a Test Match they should just postpone it or if heavy rain takes place on Day 2, 3, or 4, allowing no play or only few overs, then the game should be extended by a day. I.e. Monday - Day 1, Tuesday - Day 2, Wednesday - Day 3 - only 8 overs bowled, rest washed out by rain. Thursday - Day 3 repeat (or something like that), Friday - Day 4, Saturday - Day 5.

This will ensure maximum chance of a result and the game won't technically be 6 days long, furthermore players won't get fatigued either because they don't play on the rain day. Essentially it is similar to the rest day thing but only if it rains and 15 overs or less (or something like that) are bowled.

This would be especially helpful in Test matches in Eng and Ire and County cricket as well as Aus and Nz and to some extent other countries (e.g. SL during monsoon).

 

[The_Odd_One]

Roof is the only feasible solution. If covering the entire field is too costly, perhaps cover the pitch or inner circle only?