The heat wave prevailing in the North these days has forced the Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) to convert it's three week cricket coaching camp in progress at Rohtak into a day night affair. It is for the first time in the history of Haryana cricket that a coaching camp has been arranged under artificial lights. The Rohtak Cricket Academy, which is one of the two venues of the camp presents an unusual sight of evening practice hours being extended upto 10 pm under the temporarily installed soft lights.

The camp has been arranged by the HCA for three weeks with a view to provide off season practice facilities to the state cricketers with special emphasis on physical fitness. The trainees comprise mostly Ranji Trophy cricketers and some upcoming youngsters who have done well in junior tournaments in the recently concluded season.

The organisers chose two venues for the purpose. The morning sessions of practice were being undertaken at the Sat Priya Cricket Academy whereas the evening sessions were allotted to the Rohtak Cricket Academy. Both the venues are not equipped with artificial lights like all other academies and stadia in Haryana.

It was during the first week of the camp that the searing heat, with temperatures touching 45 degrees Celsius made it uncomfortable for the trainees. The hot breeze blew till 7.30 in the evening. Ranbir Singh Mahindra, secretary, Haryana Cricket Association said that the trainees braved these exhaustive conditions for many days. In fact the oven like conditions were bound to curb their enthusiasm besides causing adverse physical impact. Mahindra said that normal conditions were restored by installing temporary lights to enable the cricketers to continue their practice after sunset.

The organisers have installed 14 halogen bulbs, 12 tube lights and a mercury bulb on the wooden rods outside the practice nets with the help of two power generators, each having a capacity of 5kw. It has given a theatrical look to the venue besides providing sufficient lights to carry on practice till the late hours. The experiment appears to have clicked in a big way as most of the cricketers have expressed satisfaction in getting training under soft lights after sunset. "It is a good, new experience" said a senior cricketer attending the camp whereas another remarked "the lights are sufficient, conditions have been made conducive and we are enjoying the practice."

The coach Ashwani Kumar, a former Haryana Ranji cricketer, also expressed satisfaction on the progress of the ongoing camp. He said "We are now having an extended evening practice session from 3.30 pm to 10 pm. Every cricketer gets 30 minutes of practice daily in the evening session. A trainee has to face spinners for 15 minutes and then pacers for another quarter of an hour. A cricketer has to send a minimum of 50 throws from different angles and different distances. The physical problems are attended to by the physio Dr. YP Mathur. A video camera has also been installed to record the practice sessions which in turn will be shown to the trainees to remove their technical faults.

With the induction of artificial lights, the activities at the camp have been enlivened once again. The trainees have been given a busy schedule with start of activities at 6 am. Players exercise, and do running or have fielding practice on alternative days. In general, there is a spurt in the activities at the camp venue.

© CricInfo