Cricket Australia is preparing for smoke from bushfires to have an impact on play during Sydney's New Year's Test against the Black Caps.
A firefighter conducts back-burning measures to secure residential areas from encroaching bushfires in the Central Coast, some 90-110km north of Sydney. Photo: AFP
Reduced visibility on the field, caused by smoke from the bushfires currently ravaging parts of NSW, is the primary issue that could put players and umpires at risk of injury during the January 3-7 match.
Spectators could also face health risks.
But if smoke did interrupt the match, CA head of operations Peter Roach said ICC regulations would allow officials to work around the issue, effectively treating it like a rain delay.
"It's a growing issue that we're seeing around the country, certainly Sydney and Canberra mainly," Roach said.
"Like rain, the rules are in place to add time, to suspend play.
"But what we're finding is it comes in quick but also goes quick.
"It's unlikely, we believe, it'll be there for a full day. We might see some challenges across that day, but we'll play it like rain or adverse weather. Time can be added on."
Roach approved of the Big Bash match officials' decision to call off the Thunder v Strikers clash in Canberra.
"We've got a lot of data from the weather bureaus to say when things get dangerous, but what we're seeing is the visibility seems to be the most obvious thing," Roach said.
"I think we have concern when the smoke's around, definitely, because it is a challenge on those two metrics."
-ABC