Cann backs T20 postponement (Update)

Cricketer Lionel Cann says the Bermuda Cricket Board was right to postpone this week’s games in order to meet and discuss logistical issues surrounding the Lindo’s T20 Tournament.

There have been consistent safety complaints from players regarding the use of the traditional white clothing and red balls during this season’s night games.

Players say it is hard to see the ball come off the bat and also argue it gives the team that fields last a disadvantage.

The T20 tournament, which is just two weeks in, has also had to deal with no-shows from umpires as they struggle to cope with matching work shifts to the new evening schedule.

It is believed this is just one of the concerns the Bermuda Cricket Umpires’ Association has outlined to the BCB.

The alternatives of using a white ball and moving the games to the weekend are to be discussed at a  meeting of the BCB Technical Committee this week. The Bermuda Sun understands a decision is expected by the end of the week.

Cann told the Sun: “I think it was a good decision that they postponed it. I said from the beginning that it wasn’t thought out and the logistics of it just weren’t thought out. 

“I knew that. Now it’s gone on and things that we said were going to happen are happening. I think it’s a good thing that they postpone it and get it right.”

World Cup veteran  Cann is also coach at Warwick, who have already withdrawn from the T20 competition. He cited the  deviation from last year’s scheduling as creating unnecessary complications for players and their families this year, saying: “I don’t think it should be nights at all.

“I think it was perfect last year the way it was.  You had two games at each grounds, one at 10am and the other game was at 2.  People could plan their whole day around it for a family, and that’s what we need to get back to.

“There was nothing wrong with last year, it was a perfect situation. 

“Now we’re getting an element where it’s night time and we’re asking people to get off work after a hard day’s work and try to perform playing cricket for three hours, so you’re not going to get the best out of the cricketers, and then you ask people to give up their evenings, which is their family time.

“I don’t think it needed to change. And now you have night games, so who’s going to pay for the lights? You’re giving the club another expense. The logistics just never did work.

“I’m glad they took the bold move to stop it and revisit it and get things right.”  

So far this season, the competition has been plagued by safety complaints over the wearing of traditional white clothing and the use of the red ball during evening matches. Some players have also complained that the inability to see the ball off the bat as the sun goes down hands a clear advantage to the team batting second.

The T20 tournament, which is just two weeks in, has also had to deal with no-shows from umpires as they struggle to cope with matching work shifts to the evening schedule. It is believed this is just one of the concerns the Bermuda Cricket Umpires’ Association has outlined to the BCB.

The alternatives of using a white ball and moving the games to the weekend are likely to be discussed at the meeting. The Bermuda Sun understands a decision is expected by the end of the week.