The Spin | Drought in southern Africa means cricket must look hard in the mirror


‘I’m being sacrilegious but we need to look at artificial surfaces,’ says the Wanderers groundsman, Evan Flint, amid climate crisis

Evan Flint has his feet up, at last. It is day four of the final Test between England and South Africa and, as chief groundsman, all he can do is watch as Rassie van der Dussen and Dean Elgar grind out the beginnings of a doomed rearguard action.

Flint has been at the Wanderers since last spring, lured north after 10 and a half years at Newlands, where he won groundsman of the year during his last two seasons. He had had a lot to cope with.

Related: The Spin | Cricket feels heat as climate crisis creates corridor of uncertainty

Related: Chucking Jos Buttler from England’s Test side would be hasty and foolish | Jonathan Liew

Continue reading...