Dew - The Little Monster; A Boon or Bane for the Day and Night Cricket Matches

A common query to the curators or the organizers by the match officials, umpires, match referee, sponsors, franchise, team managers, captains or the players is about the prevailing weather conditions just before or at the time of match as it effect the financial stake of each one of them directly or indirectly. The traditional or conventional style of answering the above mentioned query is to respond just by looking above the sky and based on experience that it will rain or the dew will form or not. Now a day�s based on the meteorological data�s (rain, temperature, humidity, dew point, ET rate etc. ) provided by the local meteorological sub- stations installed by the IMD or various meteorological websites (such as www. aquaweather. com) the exact timing, its intensity and probable losses can be perceived in advance and various precautionary measures and action can be taken by the curators and the groundsman thereby reducing their huge financial losses by having a dew effected or rain washed match. Even the timing of dew formation can be calculated by knowing the dew point temperature which is a nightmare for the bowlers during the day and night matches. The above mentioned meteorological data�s are easily available and accessible by the nearest AWS (automatic weather stations) of the IMD or from weather forecasting websites. This review is an attempt to understand the Dew and its effects on the matches played under day and night conditions and various scientific preventive measures that can minimize its effect.