IND vs AUS: ICC preps back-up pitch for WTC final in case of protestor disruption
In anticipation of potential disturbances by activists from Just Stop Oil, the ICC has been building a backup pitch at The Oval for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The decision to prepare an additional pitch is being made to prepare for the worst-case situation; nevertheless, the strip that will be used for the Test, which starts on Wednesday, will remain the same one that has been managed during the last several days.
Why Has ICC Prepared Backup Pitch For WTC Final?
The action follows a string of interruptions by Just Stop Oil protesters, a coalition of environmental organisations working to increase public awareness of climate change, at sports events around the UK during the previous year. The World Snooker Championships, Premiership Rugby Union, and Premier League Football have all been impacted.
Last week, an activist blockade caused a slight delay for the England men’s team bus as it travelled to Lord’s for the one-off Test against Ireland. The Just Stop Oil protesters caused delays for the Australia team bus on Monday morning as it was travelling to The Oval for practise.
The ICC has revised the rules for the WTC final to include a provision that allows for the use of a different pitch if the current one is damaged or judged unsafe. If the surface does not damage either team, the first stage in the playing conditions is to examine if the current pitch can be fixed and the game can resume from the moment it was halted.
ICC Prepares Two Pitches At The Oval As Precautionary Measure Over Oil Protest
A new pitch will be used if the previous pitch cannot be fixed. The game won’t be abandoned and considered a no-result until it cannot be continued on that other surface.
Both teams have been informed by the ICC of the development. “It’s something we got in the security briefing a couple days ago,” Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, said. “I’ve heard that they’re aware of it and kind of keep an eye out. But that’s as much as we’ve heard.
“So hopefully, it doesn’t happen, obviously. But I’ve heard there’s a few different events that have been affected.”
To lessen cricket’s carbon impact, Cummins and other Australian players founded the Cricket for Climate organization. Cummins has been an outspoken champion for the environment, “First of all I have to say I haven’t really followed it at all, so I don’t really know what these protests are about, but my view is always there’s right ways to go about things and potentially not the right way to go about things,” Cummins said on what he thought of method used by Just Stop Oil protestors. “Whenever anyone’s got any beliefs, you just hope you take the right option.”
For both teams and the Test, which is sold out for all five days, security has been stepped up considerably.
Thank you for reading.
