Australia and New Zealand have decided to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the bushfire smoke in Sydney. The players from both the sides will be wearing black arm-bands during the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 3. The emergency services personnel will also be honoured before the start of play.
Cricket Australia (CA) has also announced that the ODI leg of the series in March will involve fundraising for the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. For starters, about two weeks ago, Canberra, 250 km south-west of Sydney, witnessed tragic smoke. The BBL game between Sydney Thunder and the Adelaide Strikers was also called off due to the same.
“It’s a growing issue that we’re seeing around the country, certainly Sydney and Canberra mainly,” Peter Roach, Cricket Australia’s Head of Cricket Operations, was quoted as saying in cricket.com.au. The fires continue to terrorise New South Wales, including the outskirts of Sydney.
Despite the pollution level, CA is keen on the Sydney Test, which could be delayed but not abandoned. The Aussies have also taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
“Like rain, the rules are in place to add time, to suspend play (for Tests). But what we’re finding is it comes in quick but also goes quick. It’s unlikely, we believe, it’ll be there for a full day. We might see some challenges across that day, but we’ll play it like rain or adverse weather. Time can be added on,” Roach added.
Peter Siddle described the atmosphere on the field at the Manuka Oval in Canberra similar to a campfire. “If you sit next to a campfire, just imagine that, that’s what it felt like out on the field,” Adelaide Strikers’ Siddle said.
During the game, the ACT Health’s Air Quality increased to 1300 while the ICC’s guideline suggests an average reading of 300.
