Heat stumps Noble Park

By Stuart Teather
NOBLE Park’s Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association (VSDCA) clash with third-placed Malvern will be played as a one-day game this weekend after the extreme heat forced the cancellation of all games on Saturday.
VSDCA president Ken Fewster said his major concern was for the well-being of both the players and umpires.
Fewster said he couldn’t remember ever having to cancel a game due to heat.
“I’ve been with the Sub-Districts since about 1961 and we’ve played in heat, but never can I remember anything like 46 degrees,” he said.
“Our heat policy is basically trying to be logical with umpires and so-forth. If it got to the stage where it was too hot, there is a clause where the umpires can call it off.”
Games were also called off in the Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) on Saturday, with association president Michael Hawking citing player safety as his major concern.
“You’ve always got to have in the back of your mind that there’s a duty of care,” he said.
Like Fewster, Hawking said he could not recall ever having to cancel matches due to heat.
All games will be played as one-day clashes this weekend.