UPDATED bylaws will now see Sunraysia Cricket Association senior matches cancelled if the predicted temperature is 40 degrees Celsius or higher.
The changes were made during the week by the SCA, with the safety of players and umpires at the forefront of the decision said organisation president Mick Thomson.
The previous cut off temperature was 42 degrees, and much of the last weekend’s action was just under that threshold at 41 degrees.
If predicted temperature through Bureau of Meteorology at 4.30pm on Friday is 40 degrees or higher for Saturday play will be cancelled.
Women’s matches on Friday nights already have a cut-off temperature of 40 degrees, as do junior games.
Mr Thomson said while the decision increases the risk of losing more days of cricket to elements, it was the right choice to make.
“At the end of the day the safety of everyone involved is our priority,” he said.
“We’ll have it this way until the end of the season then we’ll discuss it again for how it looks in the future.
“We had four umpires and a similar amount of players leave the field at the weekend, mainly due to the fact there was no breeze to speak of.
“We had a similar day to this four or five years ago where it was 41 and there just wasn’t any relief.
“We were looking at other options including night games, which are still a possibility, but the umpires struggle to see the ball then anyway as many of them are older.
“Considering how it’s been in general we haven’t lost a day of play to heat yet this season.”
While this Saturday looks a safe bet with a predicted 36 degrees, if hot temperatures persist more games are at risk of being shortened or generating no result.
All competition fixtures will be concluded by the end of March.
