SYDNEY, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- One of cricket's most famous fixtures - the Boxing Day Test - could soon be under threat from climate change, a new Australian report warned on Friday.
According to Monash University's Climate Change Communication Research Hub, extreme heat in the coming decades will eventually make the annual match between Australia and a visiting nation at the Melbourne Cricket Ground a thing of the past.
"Despite the extensive heat management resources available to professional teams, continuing to play the Boxing Day Test in its current format at the end of December will expose players and fans to unprecedented levels of extreme heat," the report said.
"If no effective climate mitigation action is taken, consideration should be given to moving the Melbourne Test to the shoulder season."
Drawing in crowds of over 100,000 on the first day of play and watched by millions around the world, the report suggests the Boxing Day Test must be moved to either November or March.
"Climate change is affecting cricket here and now," said Paul Sinclair, campaigns director at the Australian Conservation Foundation, which commissioned the research.
"Already this season we've seen New South Wales and Queensland (State) players competing at a Sydney Cricket Ground blanketed in hazardous bushfire smoke and a Perth Test impacted by extreme heat."
In January 2018, England captain Joe Root was rushed to hospital with severe dehydration during a test match against Australia in Sydney, as pitch temperatures soared to 42 degrees Celsius.
"All the science warns climate conditions are going to worsen further - unless strong action is taken to cut climate pollution," Sinclair said.
"Cricket depends on the weather like few other sports, with changes in rainfall and temperature affecting the movement of the ball and the condition of the pitch, often turning matches."
"But cricketing authorities are yet to champion the national and international action needed to combat the root causes of climate change."
"Cricketers from grassroots clubs across the country to those in the national squad need Cricket Australia to speak up for climate solutions that match the scale of the problem facing the game."
In response to the report, the sport's national governing body admitted that more needs to be done to combat the issue.
"We acknowledge that a more holistic approach to sustainability is required to achieve greater progress to build cricket's leadership in sustainability and lessen the impact of climate change on the natural environment," Cricket Australia said in a statement.
"Developing practical frameworks, committing to targets and standing for meaningful and lasting change are ways we can create a legacy to significantly impact policy and action through the game from our national teams and community cricket."
