A. Introduction
These procedures have been issued by the ECA Executive to ensure the safety of all players, umpires and officials (based on the Cricket Australia/Cricket Victoria air quality guidelines). The ECA Executive may take into consideration any information about air quality from Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria, EPA or health authorities when applying these procedures.
The ECA Executive may cancel some or all matches regardless of the forecast or current air quality. Umpires (or in their absence the captains jointly) have the power to abandon or suspend play due to poor air quality as detailed below. No person (players or umpires) is forced by the ECA to participate in any match. Clubs shall place no pressure on any participant if he/she considers withdrawing from any part of a match for health reasons.
Air Quality Index (AQI) in these procedures is the Box Hill PM2.5 AQI on the aqicn.org website:https://aqicn.org/city/australia/melbourne/box-hill/.
B. Seniors (Turf, Synthetic, LOC, Veterans, T20)
If at 9.00am (2.00pm for an evening T20 match) on any scheduled day of play the Box Hill PM2.5 AQI is 200 or more the ECA Executive will advise whether matches are cancelled or are report to grounds.
C. ECA turf, synthetic, LOC, Veterans or T20 matches
If matches have not been cancelled and it appears to the umpires (or in their absence the captains) that the Box Hill PM2.5 AQI is 150 or more, they are expected to monitor the air quality at the start and each break in play (Start of play, Drinks break, tea break, change of innings etc).
Start of play: Play must not start if the Box Hill PM2.5 AQI is 150 or more. Play can only start if the Box Hill PM2.5 AQI falls below 150. If the Box Hill PM2.5 AQI does not fall below 150 within 90 minutes of the start of play then no play will occur on that day.
Match has commenced: If play has commenced, play will be suspended immediately if the Box Hill PM2.5 AQI is 150 or more. Play can only start if the Box Hill PM2.5 AQI falls below 150. If the Box Hill PM2.5 AQI does not fall below 150 within 90 minutes of the start of play then no further play will occur on that day.
D. All matches
If an interruption to play due to air quality (start of play and/or after play has commenced) occurs it is the responsibility of the captains to check the air quality every 15 minutes from the start of the interruption. The time of interruptions to play due to air quality must be recorded. Any interruptions to play shall be treated like any other interruption to play re: loss of overs, end of play.
The ECA Executive will take action against umpires and captains that allow or insist on continuing play in circumstances that breach this policy and put the safety and wellbeing of players (and umpires) at risk.
ECA Executive October 2023