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[art]

Sunday was one of those days. Saturday's match was finished early under the 30 second lightening and thunder rule and the storm front hit the Coast. The oval for Sunday's match was great suburban oval with a great wicket. My umpiring partner for the match was a very experienced local umpire who believed in teamwork and made me feel at home from the first moment we shook hands. This is one of the great pleasures of umpiring, a good partner who makes you feel at home.

Now the oval is a long drive from home and longer for some of the players. On arrival things look bad with pools of water at one end. We conducted a thorough inspection of the ground and conferred and the decision was that the ground whilst not unsafe as such was unfit for play and so the decision was turned over to the captains. Given the age the coaches agreed it was unfit and the game was called off.

This did not suit one or two folks who suggested various remedies. My suggestion to these folks is simple: get a life.

The correct decision was made by two very experienced coaches in consultation with the captains.

I certainly faced a long drive home for nothing but that is cricket.

[Sambo]

was this Cheltenham Art.

[art]

Yes Sambo.

I think everyone was looking forward to a great run chase but alas it was not to be. The correct and sensible decision was made by all.

[Johnny]

Officials and captains need to be sensible - what's worse than a game being called off due to the conditions, is waiting around for 4 hours before that decision is reached.

Sounds like the captins came to a relatively quick decision, so despite the long drive, at least people can get home sooner rather than later, rather than waste an entire day

[art]

The key here is that every situation is different. Indeed a four hour wait might at times produce a totally playable field or wicket and a result is achieved. Other times just when things are about to start an unexpected heavy shower sends everyone home. Part of the glorious uncertainty of cricket.

[Sambo]

yeah, thought so. I was playing a game for gold coast on the nielsens road wicket and it was mud. Luckily there were 2 synthetic wickets next to it so we still got a game.