Cricket could arguably be called our national game, although many of us have no idea how it works! However, there are sustainability issues here, so let’s look at how to make the sport a little greener.
- Cricket pitches use a lot of water to keep them green. So use giant water butts (rainwater harvesting systems can capture rain that runs off your cricket club’s roof). Better for the planet, and saves money.
- Wean your lawn off junk food to create an organic cricket pitch, not just better for the planet and wildlife, but also for the health of golfers. Costs less too, once the start-up costs have been covered.
- Look at ways your cricket club can be more sustainable. Serve local sustainable food on real plates with organic wine and beer in the clubhouse. And use biodegradable cleaning and laundry brands.
- Grazers is a company that makes calcium-liquid that makes grass unpalatable to wildlife (including slugs and snails). Although not suitable for pet rabbits and the like (as they could not eat grass treated with it), for public parks and golf courses, it may suit as it is nontoxic to wildlife. See FAQ page for info on use with cricket pitches. They say it’s effective with regular mowing, though more applications may be required (it’s also used on bowling greens, where reports found rabbits moved on after 4 weeks, with regular mowing).
- If you use that white sunscreen on your nose, know that zinc oxide or titanium oxide are lethal to pets. So make sure it’s fully washed off, before pets give you a lick!
- Conventional cricket bats are made from wood, so ensure you choose a sustainable one. Although bamboo is being touted as an option, this is not local, so this one is rather swings-and-roundabouts.
A Vegan Cricket Ball?
Lord’s Cricket Ground by John Duffin
Conventional cricket balls are still made from leather. Earley Cricket Club (Berkshire) has become the first vegan club in England, which serves plant-based foods and now uses a vegan cricket ball. The idea actually started, when the club founder (a vegan teacher) did not want Hindu and Muslim players being excluded from joining in with club life, which usually involves eating! This is following a trend of several world-class cricket players becoming vegan:
- Mady Villiers (female English cricketer)
- Virat Kohli (India’s captain)
- Peter Siddle (Aussie fast bowler)
- Kane Richardson (Aussie cricketer)
- Jason Gillepsie (Aussie coach)
The Rules of Cricket (from a 1970s tea towel)
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in.
Each man that’s in the side that’s in goes out. And when he’s out he comes in, and the next man goes in, until he’s out.
When they are all out, the side that’s out comes in. And the side that’s been in goes out. And tries to get those coming in out.
Someone you get men still in, and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, men who are out try to get him out. When out, he goes in and the next man in goes out, and goes in.
There are two men called umpires, who stay all out all the time. And they decide when the men who are in, are out.
When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in (including the not outs) – that’s the end of the game!
