THE heatwave this week, which saw England’s cricket grounds sizzle like the wheat fields of South Australia, is a mixed blessing for players. The absence of rain allows for most four-day matches to reach their natural conclusion but it can be hard work spending seven hours a day in 85F plus temperatures.
Overseas cricketers are more used to sweltering conditions but there are fewer of them around this summer due to the Covid crisis and the restrictions imposed. Which has meant it has been mainly home-grown cricketers who have trodden the sward and given truth to Noel Cowards’ pi...