England must combat the Wellington wind
"Whether it is a wind of change, helping England's team to blow hot rather than cold, or just a 60 miles per hour buster screaming through the Cook Straits, a cricket match in Wellington tends to test a team's aerodynamics as much as their mettle,"
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
"Whether it is a wind of change, helping England's team to blow hot rather than cold, or just a 60 miles per hour buster screaming through the Cook Straits, a cricket match in Wellington tends to test a team's aerodynamics as much as their mettle," writes Derek Pringle in the Daily Telegraph.
Richard Hadlee also says that the strong wind will be a factor in the second Test.
It is difficult for batsmen, bowlers and fielders to combat, and the constant wind gusts are very off-putting for bowlers in their delivery stride, batsmen picking up their bats in the back lift, and fielders trying to catch a swirling ball. There may be the odd still day but one thing is for sure, somehow the wind will play its part during the game as the ground is unprotected. The cold, southerly wind from the sea blows hard from mid-off to fine leg. The northerly wind, although usually warmer, blows from mid-on to third man. Swing bowlers often prosper, but someone has to bowl into it possibly for 20 overs in a day, which in itself is very energy-sapping exercise.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo