India vs New Zealand 2019: Napier Mayor Isn't Impressed With Cricketers Objecting Sunlight

Well, during the first ODI of the ongoing 5-match series between India and New Zealand, a rare incident took place, as the players objected the excessive sunlight. The batsmen of India expressed their concern that the sunlight was into their eyes, which made things delay in the Napier ODI. Meanwhile, the Napier mayor Bill Dalton isn’t impressed with it.

Dalton was among those at McLean Park when the Black Caps vs India ODI was paused for 37 minutes on Wednesday evening after the umpires decided sun strike made playing conditions too dangerous. Speaking of the same, he added that cricketers need to toughen up.

Cricket is an outdoor sport, it was a weird reason to delay – Bill Dalton

The Napier Mayor quoted that he isn’t pleased with the reason given by the cricketers. He believes that the sport is played outside, especially, under the sunlight. Dalton quoted that cricketers need to accept the reality, as there are no certain techniques to stop sunlight.

Further, he went on to say adding that he wasn’t sure whether Indians would stop the game if it took place in their home ground. Bill Dalton feels that it was one of the weird reasons to delay the game.

“To be absolutely honest with you my view is that these guys are sportsmen who play outside. If they get a bit of sun in their eyes that’s part of the game. That’s my personal view,” Dalton said on Thursday. It’s an outdoor sport and they’ve got to toughen up… It’s all a bit weird to me. I’m not saying it can’t be done, or won’t be done, but I’m not aware of any plans,” he said.

“But my view is it’s an outdoor sport. I’ve been involved in speedway locally. When drivers came into the pit turn at certain times of the year they got sun strike in their eyes, so they shut their eyes and hit the gas harder. It’s just one of those things. I wonder if in India they go off the field because they have sun in their eyes,” he said.

Well, it was really a weird reason to delay the game. But, cricket can’t be played at the expense of risking their lives. With bowlers, bowling at their best, and if the batsman can’t see them due to the external factors then obviously, there is no other choice then stopping the game.