SAND AND DELIVER

England docs' 'no-sliding' rulé at injury-risk ground

- DEAN WILSON

ENGLAND have been warned about running through a Dharamsala "bunker" amid fears for their fast bowlers' joints.

The ground hosted. Bangladesh's six-wicket win over Afghanistan yesterday, but it brought back memories of the abandoned match in Antigua back in 2009 when the outfield was more sand than grass and fast bowlers couldn't run up properly.

There was plenty of sand being kicked up here as Bangladesh cruised to a win, but it was just about good enough for the game to be played.

If the game does go ahead on Tuesday, there will be strict instructions from the England medical staff for players to avoid sliding in the field, where their knees could easily get caught in the turf and cause serious injury, just like it did for fast bowler Simon Jones in The Ashes.