The Week India – June 30, 2019

102 THE WEEK • JUNE 30, 2019

WORLD CUP

ICC

2019

GRAPHICS SREEMANIKANDAN S., SYAM KRISHNAN/RESEARCH REUBEN JOE JOSEPH, SARATH RAMESH KUNIYL

Cold, overcast weather in

England is believed to aid

swing and seam bowling

The dome-shaped pitch covers used

in England allows sunlight to pass

through, and some have air circulation

units inside to dry the pitches

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If it has rained the day before

the match, captains might opt

to field first to take advantage

of the swing before the

pitch dries up

A sluggish and wet outfield affects

run-scoring. The bowlers, too, find it

difficult to grip the the ball. Slippery

outfield is dangerous for fielders, too

Pace bowlers tend to bowl cross

seam on unevenly damp pitches,

making use of the variable bounce

Clay

200mm

depth

All wicket tables have a slight

fall from one side to the other,

a minimum of 1.25%, to let

the water run off

In damp conditions, when the

pitch is covered, it absorbs

moisture and becomes soft,

thus losing its bounce

During this World Cup,

though the pitch and

adjacent areas were

covered when it rained,

the outfield remained

uncovered

Drainage layer: 3mm

aggregate 100mm depth

Geofabric

membrane

Compacted

subbase

Drainage trench

65mm pipe

50mm depth

BEATING THE RAIN

This World Cup has had the most number of abandoned

matches. A look at how rain affects cricket and how

it is managed