Cricket Post COVID-19

With all sports across the globe returning back to action after Coronavirus outbreak. Leagues like Bundesliga and NBA restarting with no spectators. Cricket is also about to proceed again with Windies cricket team touring England in June – July for 3 match test series. Cricket will be resuming after the long break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The last cricket match that was contested before the outbreak was an ODI between Australia and New Zealand on 13th March.

Williamson & Finch at toss in front crowd.
Williamson & Finch at the toss in empty SCG.

 

Cricket Pundits across the globe have two different perceptions. Some say that cricket should restart as soon as possible but some of them say that play behind closed doors is also a disaster. A senior sports journalist Vikrant Gupta says that “Sports isn’t the most important thing in the world but in lesser important things, it is the most important thing”. On the other hand, Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar says “Playing cricket in an empty stadium is like marriage without a bride”.


With cricketing action restarting after 4 months break, International Cricket Council (ICC) has come up with some changes in rules and regulations. ICC has said bowlers will not be allowed to use saliva on the ball for shinning purposes but body sweat can be used. Non-neutral umpires would be appointed during the pandemic and additional DRS would be given to each team. And lastly, a COVID substitute would be allotted if some player gets tested positive during the match.

 

England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has committed cricket would be played in the biosecure environment and full safety protocols would be taken for the test series. Windies players would be in quarantine for 14 days after the traveling and their hotels would also be inside the stadium for all the venues. Players would not be allowed to meet anyone i.e. fans or family.

a
Root shinning the ball with COVID precautions.


ICC’s cricket committee which is headed by Indian ace spinner Anil Kumble has recommended ICC for Kookaburra wax which the company claims is the substitute for saliva’s role in shinning the ball. All the changes that ICC did, were recommended by the committee but ICC didn’t approve the use of wax as it would be against the ethics of the game.

 

Noteworthy players like Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram argues that the modern game anyways favors batsman and the new rules by the ICC would be a disadvantage to the bowlers. Sachin said the new ball should be available after 55 overs and Akram recommended that the conditions should be made for the bowlers. Commenting on ICC's new rules, Sachin said in colder condition player might not sweat, and then how would they shine the ball.


Location: New Delhi, Delhi, India

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  1. MaggieJune 22, 2020 at 7:46 AM

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