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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made arrangements for two pitches for the World Test Championship (WTC) final between Australia and India at Kennington Oval in London. The decision was made due to threats from the Just Stop Oil group, known for vandalizing fields and fields in the past.
Given the group's history of hacking and disrupting matches, the UK government and the ICC have taken the threat seriously. To address potential pitch damage caused by protests, a new clause, 6.4, was added to the conditions of play for the WTC Final.
If a pitch invasion occurs, the referees on the pitch will assess whether it is unsafe or unreasonable to continue playing on the match pitch. They will then stop play and inform the ICC match referee as per subsection 6.4.1.
If it is decided that play cannot be resumed, the field officials, in consultation with the ICC match official, will assess the possibility of repairing the existing field. The ICC match referee will consider whether the repair would unfairly benefit either team, considering the play that had already taken place on the 'dangerous' ground.
What is 'Just Stop Oil Group?
Just Stop Oil is an environmental activist group that emerged as a result of collaboration between the organizers of Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain. Their protest activities have included invasions of soccer fields, street demonstrations, and disruptive actions at oil terminals.
They have drawn attention for spray-painting buildings in London and for an incident in which tomato soup was thrown at Vincent van Gogh's iconic Sunflower painting at the National Gallery.
While their intent is to raise awareness and attention to their cause, their methods have faced significant criticism from the public, particularly due to the disruptions and delays caused by their actions.
The movement gained significant attention after a series of protests in March 2022, during which pitch invasions took place at several Premier League football stadiums. One activist even tied himself to a goalpost as a form of protest.
Since then, the movement has continued to organize notable demonstrations, including disruptions at oil terminals and roadblocks on some of the country's busiest highways. These actions serve as powerful statements to draw attention to their cause and pressure the government to address their demands regarding the cessation of new licenses for oil exploration and other fossil fuel activities in the UK.
What does it want?
Specifically, the group is calling on the government to drop its plan to approve 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025. They believe that continued exploration and production of fossil fuels exacerbates the environmental crisis and hampers efforts to mitigate climate change.
By lobbying the government to stop these activities, Just Stop Oil aims to prioritize renewable and sustainable energy solutions while raising awareness of the urgent need for climate action.
Their specific wishes to help combat the climate crisis also include wanting better investments in renewable energy and better building installation to prevent energy waste.
How it can disrupt WTC 2023 Final?
Increased security measures have been put in place to safeguard The Oval course during the World Test Championship final, amid concerns that climate activists could pose a threat to the match. Just Stop Oil protests in England over the past year, including roadblocks that delayed buses for teams from England and Australia, have prompted organizers to take precautions.
Australian Captain Pat Cummins acknowledged the safety briefing received and expressed his hope that such disruptions would not occur. He mentioned previous events affected by protests and noted the presence of larger team members around the pitch to act as additional security guards.
Cummins has been one of the most eloquent voices in both Australian sport and the world of cricket on the need to act on climate change. But he was hoping it wouldn't become a problem at The Oval.
"My point of view is that there are always right ways to do things and potentially not the right way to do it," he said. "Whenever someone has a belief, you just hope they make the right choice."
Keep Reading
- COP27: Protest around world demand climate justice
- Just Stop Oil Protests, a list
- Climate activist disrupts traffic in Hamburg to highlight climate crisis
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