Joe Root’s illness after playing through scorching SCG heat impel for new ‘cease play’ rules

It was a tough maiden tour of Australia for Joe Root as it ended in painful fashion after he was admitted to hospital with a bout of gastroenteritis. Root was hospitalized overnight with vomiting and diarrhoea. With temperatures reaching 47 degrees in Penrith and other parts of Sydney throughout Sunday, a gallant Root was out in the middle for all bar 35 balls on day four of the final Ashes Test of the summer.

The 27-year-old made a late arrival to the ground on the final day, failing to resume at the start of play, with his hospital wristband still strapped to his wrist. Although England have denied any bout of gastroenteritis was directly related to dehydration, Dr. Brad Frankum, president of the Australian Medical Association in New South Wales, opined play should not have gone ahead in such conditions.

Root’s illness after playing through scorching heat during the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG has now prompted calls for new ‘cease play’ rules to improve player safety. Speaking to The New Daily, Dr. Brad Frankum opined, “If the umpires feel it’s unsafe or the players are too distressed, they probably should have a rule of being able to cease play.”

This isn’t the first instance where extreme temperatures forced cricketers to fall ill

Former Aussie all-rounder Andy Bichel, who donned the baggy green in 19 Tests for Australia, knows just what it is like to play in dangerous weather. Forced under the burning sun in Sharjah in 2002, Bichel braved 52-degree heat to represent his country. However, he conceded it was nearly impossible to compete at a professional level and could relate to Root’s physical state post-game.

Australian cricketer turned pundit Dean Jones was another cricketer to famously battle the heat for Australia, scoring 210 runs in agonizing Indian conditions in 1986. He took to Twitter to voice his opinion on the issue.

You can see the Tweet below

After speaking to a couple of doctors this morning.. in my opinion cricket should be called off after 41C.. it’s a workplace issue now.. just my opinion ..

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) January 7, 2018