EXTREME weekend heat conditions have called into question differing heat policies for Wimmera sports.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Some may deem it too hot to venture outside but Horsham Cricket Association by-laws state games will be called off when the forecast temperature is 42 degrees or higher on 8am of the day of play.
Association secretary Darren Chesterfield said the current by-law reflects the region’s climate and that cricket is a summer sport.
“A reduction to the temperature that cricket is cancelled at would simply see less cricket played,” he said.
“The board has made concessions in the past couple of years, increasing the Christmas break and delaying the start of the season. This all starts to impact the strength of the competition.”
In past seasons cricket had been called off earlier in the week based on forecasts.
“We then woke up on on Saturday to find out that the forecast had been changed to 36 degrees,” Chesterfield said.
“The voices of those who thought that cricket was cancelled too early was very strong so we ended up with the bylaw we have now.
“During the off season it may be worth considering changing the cancellation to Friday evening so that people can amend plans for the weekend.”
The neighbouring Wimmera-Mallee Cricket Association is not likely to see any play. Its law dictates play will be called off if the bureau’s forecast is 40 degrees or higher for Warracknabeal at 6pm on Friday evening.
Association secretary Gary Fernandez said the nature of the association sometimes made things difficult.
“We are spread all over the shop so it might be 41 at Charlton and Wycheproof might be 42,” he said.
“Last week was a shocker because some teams even just pulled the pin. We have a lot of juniors playing so 40 degrees is probably hitting the mark.”
The association’s heat policy is adjusted up to 42 degrees in finals to ensure a better chance for the knockout games to go ahead.
“A couple of years a go we reached 40 degrees and couple of blokes tried to pull a swifty on us so they could go straight through to the grand final,” Fernandez said.
“We ended up making them play and we’ve since changed the rule to make sure it wouldn’t happen again.”
Tennis players in the region are called off the court event earlier with the current Central Wimmera Tennis Association policy stopping play when it reaches 38 degrees.
Association president Kate-Lyn Perkin said the policy had been made simpler.
“It used to be that we reduced the length of sets but things were too confusing when people were already in the middle of a set,” she said.
“Now it’s just if it’s 38 degrees then you come off the court – it’s easier now we can check on our phones.”