Cricket: Intense three days take their toll

By Richard Boock

Opposing captains Stephen Fleming and Hansie Cronje have called for an amendment to the laws governing one-day international cricket after being forced to play three games in three days.

South Africa's crushing 143-run win over New Zealand in the fifth one-dayer at Eden Park on Saturday night came after a last-ball win in Napier on Friday, and a washed-out game at the same venue on Thursday evening.

International Cricket Council rules do not allow for a well- advanced, albeit washed-out game to be continued on the reserve day, meaning the teams had to remain in Napier on Friday for a full replay, before jumping on a chartered flight to Auckland soon after the game ended.

Fleming said the demands on the players were such that something should be done to ensure it never happened again.

"They [the ICC] have got to have look at that situation, because it's not great for the game in a wider sense," he said.

"It's very demanding on the players, some of whom are struggling with injury as it is.

"Fatigue sets in and the travel factor doesn't help, so I think it's high time to push for a law change."

One of several players battling injury in this series, Fleming said he was not making any excuses for the loss at Eden Park, but believed the lawmakers had to have another look at the situation where the only day between two games in different centres was deemed to be a reserve day.

"To my mind they'd be better off having another look at it, and maybe reverting to the policy of continuing a weather-affected game, rather than replaying it."

While Cronje was at odds with that suggestion, he agreed that playing three games - even part games - in three days was counter-productive to good cricket.

"You have to do justice to the game and all the people who support it, and frankly, the practice of playing three matches in three days makes it extremely hard to do that," Cronje said.

"We have to look at what's good for the product, and having players becoming tired and unable to recover from niggling injuries can affect the integrity of the game."

The South African skipper believed in some situations a reserve day should not be included, but was equally adamant that a washed-out game should not be continued the next day.

"I don't like that idea because the conditions can change so much from day to day, and one side may gain a marked advantage. But it's certainly time the ICC addressed it again."