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Should venues be changed if it is known in advance that rain is very likely?

SM1989

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There is an 80% chance of rain washing out the Pakistan Sri Lanka match and we have known this for a few days.

In an intense competition like the world cup, washouts are really unfair on teams. Should the ICC not have back up venues ready and shift the matches there when the likelihood of rain is very high?
 
It's practically impossible to implement. Both for broadcaster and crowd.
 
Schedules and venues are decided well in advance. Very difficult to change them a couple of days before because of rain.

Only see this talk with our fanbase. Rain is apart of the game unfortunately. I am annoyed as well . But the forecast looks better from next week.
 
It's better to accept that the occasional washout is part and parcel of cricket tournaments and that they add to the overall variance of the event.

Imagine how different Pakistan cricket would be today if we weren't the beneficiaries of a washout in '92.
 
It's better to accept that the occasional washout is part and parcel of cricket tournaments and that they add to the overall variance of the event.

Imagine how different Pakistan cricket would be today if we weren't the beneficiaries of a washout in '92.

If rain never existed we would have gained 2 points versus South Africa.
 
If they know in advance then I'm not sure what the issue could be.

How's it possible to redirect ticket holders. Specially touring ones.

An abandoned match in a world cup is not good for fan base but a match with empty stands is even worse.
 
How's it possible to redirect ticket holders. Specially touring ones.

An abandoned match in a world cup is not good for fan base but a match with empty stands is even worse.

If they travelled this far, what's stopping them from travelling a little bit more?
 
How's it possible to redirect ticket holders. Specially touring ones.

An abandoned match in a world cup is not good for fan base but a match with empty stands is even worse.

They can have the choice to to refund their tickets or to use them at the alternate venue.
 
Schedules and venues are decided well in advance. Very difficult to change them a couple of days before because of rain.

Only see this talk with our fanbase. Rain is apart of the game unfortunately. I am annoyed as well . But the forecast looks better from next week.

Why not have the alternate venues set in advance as well, sort of as a Plan B? E.g. If rain is in Bristol, the alternate venue will be Edgbaston.
 
As people have said the logistics would be a nightmare of changing venue.
However, you could have had rain day i.e.if match day is rained off fully or partially, you can play the next day at the SAME venue and all tickets remain valid. Of course this would have financial implIcations for the venue(cost of staffing etc) but this could have been taken into account beforehand.
Now fridays game will be a washout, but the weather the next day seems fine!
Obviously, sometimes the next day will be rainy as well, and in this case you cant do anything. But having a rainday would drastically reduce the number of games called off for rain.
 
If they travelled this far, what's stopping them from travelling a little bit more?

You are clearly out of touch with real scenarios of life. No offense intended. It's just that you seem a bit young to grasp how hard it can be.
 
Since ICC had to refund the ticket money, how hard is to shift the match next day? Venue is free, as it doesn't have wc match next day. Teams are already there. Everyone is supposed to be there. Pak & Sirilanka don't have match next day.
 
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I'm surprised by the allocation for this match.

Bristol is one of the smallest grounds in the country. I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say a team like Palistan, which attracts a large following in the UK, should have been given a bigger venue for this game with better drainage like Old Trafford or Edgbaston.
 
Since ICC had to refund the ticket money, how hard is to shift the match next day? Venue is free, as it doesn't have wc match next day. Teams are already there. Everyone is supposed to be there. Pak & Sirilanka don't have match next day.

Broadcasters don't have scheduled space in airtime. In the end, they are the one who matter.
 
Since ICC had to refund the ticket money, how hard is to shift the match next day? Venue is free, as it doesn't have wc match next day. Teams are already there. Everyone is supposed to be there. Pak & Sirilanka don't have match next day.

The ground have to get permission from the local council to play the next day. Hotel bookings will have to be made for all the players, officials, media etc. Staff for all the catering and retail outlets would have to be organised overnight, in addition to stewards and the various other employees at the grounds on match days. Large amounts of tickets would have to be refunded. The game would end up not being broadcast in many countries due to the clash with other games. It would be an absolute nightmare.
 
The ground have to get permission from the local council to play the next day. Hotel bookings will have to be made for all the players, officials, media etc. Staff for all the catering and retail outlets would have to be organised overnight, in addition to stewards and the various other employees at the grounds on match days. Large amounts of tickets would have to be refunded. The game would end up not being broadcast in many countries due to the clash with other games. It would be an absolute nightmare.

THat's the idea, to not refund those tickets. Bookings & the above applies to semi final too, for which ICC has reserve day
 
THat's the idea, to not refund those tickets. Bookings & the above applies to semi final too, for which ICC has reserve day

Because it's doable for a very limited number of games. You can't afford to pay the millions it would cost to have the same luxury for every game. You'd also end up with a seriously reduced crowd.
 
Because it's doable for a very limited number of games. You can't afford to pay the millions it would cost to have the same luxury for every game. You'd also end up with a seriously reduced crowd.

It wouldn't rain in every match
 
Why not have the alternate venues set in advance as well, sort of as a Plan B? E.g. If rain is in Bristol, the alternate venue will be Edgbaston.

Because you cant just change venue due to a forecast a day before.
 
It wouldn't rain in every match

It's not about probability. It's about planned reserve space in airtime.

There was a time when fine for slow over rates was to reduce the number of overs for chasing team (target same) and no fine for slow over rate in second innings. Then they started to fine for second innings also.

Now a days, if first innings end up behind the time, second innings will still start at scheduled time but innings interval gets shortened. Captains get banned even. This is all about creating an intensity for complying to scheduled airtime because Broadcasting rights generate 70-80% revenue as compared to 20% revenue from sponsors + gate money.
 
If it was doable they would have done it. No one wins from a washed out game.
 
If it is to be a wash-out, would have been sweet if the opponent on the day was to be Australia of all sides :P
 
It's better to accept that the occasional washout is part and parcel of cricket tournaments and that they add to the overall variance of the event.

Imagine how different Pakistan cricket would be today if we weren't the beneficiaries of a washout in '92.

We were not Beneficiaries but victims in 1992. We lost 2 points to South Africa due to rain but gained 1 point against England due to rain
 
Schedules and venues are decided well in advance. Very difficult to change them a couple of days before because of rain.

Only see this talk with our fanbase. Rain is apart of the game unfortunately. I am annoyed as well . But the forecast looks better from next week.

You need to talk with fans from more backgrounds then because rain is often a point of frustration and there are often ideas thrown around on how to avoid it.
 
You need to talk with fans from more backgrounds then because rain is often a point of frustration and there are often ideas thrown around on how to avoid it.

You need to understand that people buy tickets for a game and how will you pay for their travel and reimburse them ? Also staff members are paid to work on that day ?

But lets just think of the people who are watching the game in their living rooms.
 
You need to understand that people buy tickets for a game and how will you pay for their travel and reimburse them ? Also staff members are paid to work on that day ?

But lets just think of the people who are watching the game in their living rooms.

I never said this is a valid solution, I'm merely responding to your claim that you "only see this talk with our fanbase".

So if you read my post, I am saying every cricket fan wants a solution to this and talk about various ways of making it happen.

The best, easiest solution is having a rain day, but broadcasters don't like it so that is that.
 
I never said this is a valid solution, I'm merely responding to your claim that you "only see this talk with our fanbase".

So if you read my post, I am saying every cricket fan wants a solution to this and talk about various ways of making it happen.

The best, easiest solution is having a rain day, but broadcasters don't like it so that is that.


How can you have a rain day for over 40 fixtures ? The semis and final have rain days. Rain is a part of cricket. This solution from this thread isn't the answer.

The best solution is to have cricket grounds with roofs on but that won't happen due to the cost.
 
I think it's time for the stadiums to have roofs like tennis. Countries like England, Australia, New Zealand and even India have no excuse.
 
How can you have a rain day for over 40 fixtures ? The semis and final have rain days. Rain is a part of cricket. This solution from this thread isn't the answer.

The best solution is to have cricket grounds with roofs on but that won't happen due to the cost.

Again, I am responding to your point that only Pakistani fans think of it as an issue. Do you conceded you were wrong?

As for rain days, they have been used in the past.
 
Nah that's not a viable solution. I am a fan I booked hotel tickets, train tickets, and match tickets for venue A. I booked in advance at a cheaper rate and made all the plans. Now 4-5 days before ICC tells me venue changes and I have to cancel everything and plan again? Monetary cost will not be feasible. If ICC ever implements it will result in the death of game soon.

I think any ground which has to hold semi/final has to have rooftop. Finance would be high but I think England, Australia and India can prepare 1 ground each for this purpose.

BD, Pakistan, new Zealand, Sri Lanka host with India/Australia so semis and finals can be hosted by these two countries if the others can't afford such grounds.

SA/WI might not get to host WC in such a case.
 
It's practically impossible to implement. Both for broadcaster and crowd.
I really dont see what is impossible if you already know 4 days before that a game will be washed out.

The broadcaster will loose money anyway if the game is abandoned. The only issue will be ticket sales but ticket prices can be reduced and i am sure some crowd will still come.

I rather watch a game with 5000 people in the ground then no game.
 
Nah that's not a viable solution. I am a fan I booked hotel tickets, train tickets, and match tickets for venue A. I booked in advance at a cheaper rate and made all the plans. Now 4-5 days before ICC tells me venue changes and I have to cancel everything and plan again? Monetary cost will not be feasible. If ICC ever implements it will result in the death of game soon.

I think any ground which has to hold semi/final has to have rooftop. Finance would be high but I think England, Australia and India can prepare 1 ground each for this purpose.

BD, Pakistan, new Zealand, Sri Lanka host with India/Australia so semis and finals can be hosted by these two countries if the others can't afford such grounds.

SA/WI might not get to host WC in such a case.

A retractable roofed stadium suitable for ODI cricket would put any cricketing board in the world into significant debt.
 
Nah that's not a viable solution. I am a fan I booked hotel tickets, train tickets, and match tickets for venue A. I booked in advance at a cheaper rate and made all the plans. Now 4-5 days before ICC tells me venue changes and I have to cancel everything and plan again? Monetary cost will not be feasible. If ICC ever implements it will result in the death of game soon.

I think any ground which has to hold semi/final has to have rooftop. Finance would be high but I think England, Australia and India can prepare 1 ground each for this purpose.

BD, Pakistan, new Zealand, Sri Lanka host with India/Australia so semis and finals can be hosted by these two countries if the others can't afford such grounds.

SA/WI might not get to host WC in such a case.

Though, if the game gets washed out, you'll still be paying for your hotel and train, right? In case of change of venue, maybe they can offer a refund for the tickets for those who are unwilling to travel. Those who have bought the tickets would still like to watch a game even if on TV than have it washed out altogether, right?

I do agree that for broadcasters and other administrative tasks the change of venue at the last minute will probably not work.
 
Only 2 solutions, one at the moment is too expensive - roofs on grounds.
And the other is rain days, as i mentioned earlier.
 
Though, if the game gets washed out, you'll still be paying for your hotel and train, right? In case of change of venue, maybe they can offer a refund for the tickets for those who are unwilling to travel. Those who have bought the tickets would still like to watch a game even if on TV than have it washed out altogether, right?

I do agree that for broadcasters and other administrative tasks the change of venue at the last minute will probably not work.

True but how do you decide which game to move? What if they move game and weather prediction was incorrect. Or it rained but not enough for complete washout and they could have had a 20 over match?

Last day bookings are costlier as well.
Anyways point is it's not viable solution for various reasons.
 
A retractable roofed stadium suitable for ODI cricket would put any cricketing board in the world into significant debt.

How much does it cost? Didn't Australia had a rooftop stadium ? I remember as a kid watching afridi and other stars trying to hit the top of roof. Or was it some other country? What happened to that stadium?
 
How much does it cost? Didn't Australia had a rooftop stadium ? I remember as a kid watching afridi and other stars trying to hit the top of roof. Or was it some other country? What happened to that stadium?

Can't give you an exact figure of course but just take a look around at the cost of other modern stadiums even without roofs, the cost of football stadiums are usually easy to find. Then bear in mind you'd be adding a retractable roof into that cost (which would be a crazy engineering feat for a decent sized ground).

Yeah there's docklands stadium in Melbourne which is primarily an AFL ground. It hosts BBL games but has only hosted a few international games years back now, primarily when the MCG has been unavailable for one reason or another if I remember correctly.
 
It evens out in the end one way or another, divine justice. Most likely other matches will suffer the same fate as the tournament progresses. Another thing is we must not think defeating Sri Lanka to be a formality. I would take a point right now then rather be 60-5 or the Sri Lankan's scoring 370 batting first.
 
If it is to be a wash-out, would have been sweet if the opponent on the day was to be Australia of all sides :P
That match looks to be rained out as well.
So we'll gain two points due to rain.

It'll be the equivalent of beating Sri Lanka and losing to Australia
 
That match looks to be rained out as well.
So we'll gain two points due to rain.

It'll be the equivalent of beating Sri Lanka and losing to Australia

Yeah we need a wash out against Australia, they just know how to raise their game when the stakes are high and how to absorb pressure when they’re on the back foot.
 
How can you have a rain day for over 40 fixtures ? The semis and final have rain days. Rain is a part of cricket. This solution from this thread isn't the answer.

The best solution is to have cricket grounds with roofs on but that won't happen due to the cost.

"The Best" solution is to reward points according to Head-to-Head encounters of recent 10 matches. If that's 70-30 in favour of team A, then team A deserves full 2 points. If it's 60-40 or 50-50, then both teams can share points. It's unfair if England has to share points with Afghanistan/SL.This may also increase values of bilateral ODI series.
India-Pakistan match should always have a reserve day. Some 1.5 billion viewers think that Ind-Pak match is at par with WC Final.
 
"The Best" solution is to reward points according to Head-to-Head encounters of recent 10 matches. If that's 70-30 in favour of team A, then team A deserves full 2 points. If it's 60-40 or 50-50, then both teams can share points. It's unfair if England has to share points with Afghanistan/SL.This may also increase values of bilateral ODI series.
India-Pakistan match should always have a reserve day. Some 1.5 billion viewers think that Ind-Pak match is at par with WC Final.
Well then SA would have got 2 points against BD and so would have England against Pakistan.
 
There is always a bit of luck, it is what it is.

I mean that kind of luck tipped our way in a BIG way to help us win in ‘92.
 
It evens out in the end one way or another, divine justice. Most likely other matches will suffer the same fate as the tournament progresses. Another thing is we must not think defeating Sri Lanka to be a formality. I would take a point right now then rather be 60-5 or the Sri Lankan's scoring 370 batting first.
Ah that old chestnut , evening out in the long run!
It certainly did not even out for the aussies in CT2017!
It never does!
 
Ah that old chestnut , evening out in the long run!
It certainly did not even out for the aussies in CT2017!
It never does!

The chinese believe in yin and yang - the opposing forces of dualism. To keep the world balanced if one force increases, the opposite force must decrease to keep the world balanced.
i.e. if one team is lucky then the opposing team must be unlucky to keep the world balanced.
Luck does not even out in the long run!
 
Well then SA would have got 2 points against BD and so would have England against Pakistan.

If this was applicable, May be BD and Pak could have approached their respective bilaterals with more intense approach.
 
A detractable roof will cost a fortune(like wimbledon or cardiff national stadium), but what about a flexible polymer canopy?
Surely, that wont break the bank?
 
Alternatively hold the matches that will be rained off in an indoor cricket venue. Refund the spectators.
Yes it wont be the same as outdoors but at least we will have a match!
 
I havegiven 3 solutions now
Rain day
Polymer canopy
Switch match to Indoor venue

ICC need to come up with something in the future!
 
I thing the leagues should be scored on a custom metric, result points / matches completed.

2 points for wins. 1 point for tie. None for no result and the matches don't count.

Say Pakistan completes 7 games and 2 games are washed out. Wins 5 of them and loses 2. 10/7 = 1.43

Say Australia completes 9 games. Wins 6 of them and loses 3. 12/9 = 1.33

Using current system, Pakistan and Australia would get 12 points each and whoever advances will be decided on NRR. Using my system, Pakistan advances.
 
I thing the leagues should be scored on a custom metric, result points / matches completed.

2 points for wins. 1 point for tie. None for no result and the matches don't count.

Say Pakistan completes 7 games and 2 games are washed out. Wins 5 of them and loses 2. 10/7 = 1.43

Say Australia completes 9 games. Wins 6 of them and loses 3. 12/9 = 1.33

Using current system, Pakistan and Australia would get 12 points each and whoever advances will be decided on NRR. Using my system, Pakistan advances.
A bit unfair for all the teams who play all their games.
 
Firstly, it’s going to rain across the UK.

Secondly, cricket is a game for spectators. Why should people who have spent huge money on tickets and travel be penalised to create a match for TV?

I’d say the opposite. All international cricket matches should be confirmed at least 9 months in advance.
 
Firstly, it’s going to rain across the UK.

Secondly, cricket is a game for spectators. Why should people who have spent huge money on tickets and travel be penalised to create a match for TV?

I’d say the opposite. All international cricket matches should be confirmed at least 9 months in advance.
Rain days are the only real contingengcy
 
Like someone already said venues are decided long back and tickets are sold as well. You cannot just change it few days before the game. It is not possible at all logistically.
 
Thats pretty much impossible. Logistical nightmare for ICC and lot of compensation claims. English weather...less i talk about it the better
 
Like someone already said venues are decided long back and tickets are sold as well. You cannot just change it few days before the game. It is not possible at all logistically.

They can simply refund the tickets at the original venue or convert them to seats at the new venue if spectators are willing to trek to the alternate venue. If not they atleast have their money back. The alternate venue should be prepared and all council permissions sought beforehand as a precautionary measure.
 
It's just not possible. Too much logistics, hassle for everyone. Besides, in a country like England, it's rare that if it's raining in one place it's gonna be flip flop weather in another place. It's raining pretty much everywhere, not like it's raining only in Bristol and the weather is sunny everywhere else, especially in nearby places. I guess there is a slight chance weather will be better in a place that is the other side of the country, but even still that's no guarantee. Today's match is in Bristol, which is the South, moving it to anywhere close would be pointless, such as Taunton, London, Southampton etc. The only place that might be good is somewhere extremely up north, such as Durham. And I believe it's raining there too.
 
Impossible,simply impossible. People but tickets a month in advance they would have to give them refunds. More people would need to buy some tickets
However a shelter can be arranged like Mr .chokli said
 
UK should stick to hosting bilateral series. Atleast one team will always be fighting against the odds due to the weather.
 
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