By Paul Eddison, Sportsbeat
AS a world cricketer, Maia Bouchier has first-hand expertise of simply how a lot local weather change is remodeling our planet.
Now the 25-year-old desires to play her half in preventing again.
The place some sportspeople pay lip service to sponsor initiatives or campaigns, Bouchier isn’t just alongside for the trip, she is attempting to drive change inside cricket.
Whether or not meaning a change to journey plans for abroad excursions, or adjusting the quantity of package delivered to England gamers, the opener has a number of concepts about how the game can evolve for the sake of the planet.
“I’ve grown up with a number of alternative, my mother and father have been fairly superb and we obtained to journey to a number of locations,” stated Bouchier, talking as MCC launched its ‘Batting For a Higher Future’ sustainability marketing campaign.
“We realized the significance of wildlife and pure conservation, we obtained to see a number of cultures. So when it comes to why I’ve began to talk up about it (local weather change), I noticed the environments impacted. Cricket has been impacted by the atmosphere from what I’ve seen.
“I needed to make individuals conscious of what we will do as a group, as a result of that’s what we’re, to assist the atmosphere.
“There are various issues we will do. The large one is knowing there may be a number of journey concerned and there’s a huge carbon footprint for all of us. As a result of the ladies’s sport is bettering a lot, it’s extra of an affect there. We have to discuss what the most effective methods are of reducing that carbon footprint as a lot as we will.
“We get a number of package, it’s one thing I’ve chatted to the ECB sustainability supervisor about, what we will do to scale back that. It’s an enormous a part of decreasing the carbon footprint and the waste. There may be a lot waste round package
“Issues like gloves and pads and helmets. We go away and go to those nations the place it is rather sizzling. So it’s enthusiastic about the method after we’ve used our package, how will we reuse it? Or can we discover a strategy to cut back the affect on the atmosphere.
“It’s onerous when you need to go to Australia, on the lengthy journeys we must be a bit lenient. However for those who’re travelling six hours to a rustic, the place you may most likely simply go economic system. That’s my opinion, if as a workforce, we will be actually cautious and select the best time to go on an economic system flight. I believe that will be superb. It’s one thing I’m going to try to encourage however it’s about how we will do it as a workforce.”
MCC’s Batting For a Higher Future marketing campaign goals to make use of the Membership’s uniquely unbiased place inside cricket to focus on the challenges that local weather change pose on the game.
Bouchier will probably be a part of the England squad that travels to South Africa this week forward of a sequence towards the Proteas, the place she may make her Check debut.
The opener was most not too long ago in motion on the T20 World Cup within the United Arab Emirates, with the hovering temperatures and excessive humidity on one other stage to something she has beforehand skilled.
And with subsequent yr’s 50-over World Cup heading to India, Bouchier is aware of that coping with excessive climate situations is turning into a part of the job.
She added: “Once we go overseas and it’s 45 levels and we have now to play in that warmth. I solely actually skilled that in Dubai, luckily it was a superb day for me, I obtained a fifty towards Scotland. However that was the most popular I’ve ever performed in.
“It was the center of the day and you need to play in pads and full package. Then I take into consideration the lads having to play in Sri Lanka or India, the extreme warmth, you see it in articles in regards to the gamers fainting and go off for warmth stroke.
“I’ve undoubtedly skilled extra of it within the final two years as a result of I’ve been on that worldwide stage.
“A Check debut for me could be unbelievable, I’ve dreamt about that second for a very long time. However that’s one thing we have now to consider with how we put together. We now play 5 days, we used to play 4. The additional day is a profit since you may get extra outcomes, however enjoying in that warmth is a scary thought. We didn’t suppose Dubai was going to be that sizzling however it was. We’ve got to go and play in India subsequent yr within the 50-over World Cup, it does scare me a little bit bit. You at all times wish to be within the high health stage however realizing find out how to mentally go on the market and play in that warmth is one other thought.
“I performed final yr in India, I stayed for the Check match final yr, I used to be within the squad. I performed within the T20s. That wasn’t that unhealthy, I used to be okay in that warmth, however I didn’t play within the Check match.
“Listening to from the ladies that you simply come off the sphere and everyone seems to be simply mendacity within the altering room and having to get in an ice tub which is minus 5 levels with blocks of ice. The temperature shock is loopy. I believe I’ll solely perceive that when I’ve performed.”
Maia Bouchier was talking on the launch of MCC’s Batting For a Higher Future marketing campaign. For extra data, go to www.lords.org/better-future.
