ALL Wangaratta and District Cricket Association matches will go ahead as planned on Saturday, despite contradicting its own heat policy.
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We got caught out a few years ago and it ended up being 28, but we are very mindful of it.
- Gerard Martin
Players will have to sweat through 42 degrees in Yarrawonga, 41 in Wangaratta and Benalla, and 39 in Mansfield and Beechworth.
The association’s current policy states that “if the temperature for Wangaratta is forecast to be over 40 the extreme weather committee shall be responsible for making a decision regarding cancellation of play”.
It also says wind and humidity would be taken into account.
While the 40 degrees policy is more stringent than Cricket Albury-Wodonga’s policy of 43.1, WDCA secretary Gerard Martin said a change to the policy could be looked at.
“It might be looked at at the AGM, but there’s been no push for it yet,” Martin said.
“We had a meeting Monday night and had a delegates meeting last night and discussed it.
“All clubs agreed.”
An extreme weather day has been called, with extra drinks breaks allowed.
Games can be stopped once a result has been reached, although opposing captains must agree to it.
In what is the last round before Christmas, all A, B and C grade games are one-day matches, meaning players won’t have to spend entire games in the field.
Juniors will play 20-over games.
Martin said the fact that matches were limited-overs games had contributed to the decision to allow the round to go ahead.
“Being one-day games made a significant difference,” he said.
“Health is a priority but everyone has to use common sense.
“The trigger point is above 40 in Wang.
“There’s going to be some under and above 40.
“A couple of years ago we called it off but we had a few really hot days beforehand.
“We got caught out a few years ago and it ended up being 28, but we are very mindful of it.”
With a predicted top temperature of 42, the WDCA abandoned games in 2013.
It was the first time games had been cancelled because of the heat since Black Saturday in 2009.
The start of Saturday’s six-race twilight race meeting at Wangaratta will be delayed because of heat concerns.
The first race, a maiden over 1400m, will now jump at 5.01pm instead of 3.41pm.
The last event, race six, will run at 7.57pm, while the track opens at 3.30pm.
Saturday’s meeting at Albury could also be pushed back, while the picnic meeting at Yea has been cancelled.
