To mitigate the effects of severe heat on cricket players, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly decided to introduce drinks break after 10 overs of each innings.

Usually, T20Is don’t have drinks breaks but the ICC first introduced it during the 2021 T20 World Cup in UAE.

For the uninitiated, BCCI is the richest cricket board in the world.

As per the ICC’s (International Cricket Council) playing conditions, both the boards (BCCI and ICC) have to agree to take a 150-seconds drinks break at the midpoint.

Keeping the weather conditions in mind, there will be drinks break in the T20 series starting in Delhi from 9th June 2022.

Drinking water or other approved energy drinks during the 150-second drinks break will prevent dehydration, reduce fatigue, and improve performance.

The sad part is that it isn’t mandatory to take a drink break after 10 overs. If it is not mandatory, it is usually not done just as people don’t wear mask unless it is made mandatory.

Drinking water or other approved energy drinks during the 150-second drinks break is a proactive step that will prevent dehydration, reduce fatigue, and improve performance.

Taking a break and drinking water is something that an Occupational Health (OH) physician advises workers who are working out in the sun, especially the construction workers.

Occupational Health (OH) is proactive, preventative and improves performance.

I remember while being employed as Medical Officer In-charge in a prominent oil and gas company in the oilfields of Oman the approach to workers working out in the sun during summer (average temperature around 47 degree C) was:

  • Sensitize the senior management about effect of heat on health, safety and performance
  • Ensure senior management sensitizes the site managers
  • Conduct separate sessions on effects of heat for site managers and workers expected to be supervising or working out in the sun
  • Have shade areas for workers to rest for 10 minutes after 45 to 60 minutes of working in the sun or hot areas
  • Provide clean and cool potable water and encourage workers to drink during the 10-minute
  • Maintain high level of preparedness to deal with any heat-related health effects

It is heartening to know that BCCI is thinking about cricket players and taking steps to prevent harm to their health and performance due to heat.

Playing cricket is an occupation (job, work) and hence the players are prone to the risks inherent to the occupation.

 

BCCI should be lauded for the professional step taken to improve performance of players.

Taking a break and advising to drink water is something that an OH physician routinely advises to workers who are working out in the sun.

By approving the 150-seconds drinks break after 10 overs during cricket matches, BCCI has unknowingly put in place what OH physicians do knowingly when encountered with similar situations.

There are no reports to indicate if BCCI sought inputs from medical personnel or specifically from an OH physician while deciding about the drink break.

Even if inputs were not sought from medical professionals about the decision to have drinks break, it is author’s thinking that OH is instinctive and logical too. Example: An autorickshaw driver tying a handkerchief around the nose while driving to prevent dust entering the respiratory track is an instinctive and logical act that saves him/her from sneezing, running nose, cough or even a serious lung disease in future.

BBCI has acted instinctively and logically, and rightly so in approving the 150-seconds drinks break after 10 overs during cricket matches.

By approving the 150-seconds drinks break after 10 overs during cricket matches, BCCI has unknowingly put in place what OH physicians do knowingly when encountered with similar situations.

Complex work-related issues require expertise of an OH physician as instinctive or logical decisions alone will have limited outcomes.

BCCI will benefit by interacting with OH physicians to sort out any other health issues impacting the cricket players to improve performance of individual players as well as the team.

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