Test match cricket is set to get a new lease of life on July 8, 2020, with England facing the West Indies at the Agean Bowl, Southampton. And the International Cricket Council has gone ahead and issued a fresh set of guidelines which will be in operation for at least 12 months as sport, much like life, limps back to some kind of normalcy.
Southampton and Manchester's Old Trafford have been picked by the England and Wales Cricket Board as both venues have hotels attached to the ground facilities itself. Quite a comedown from the original itinerary that figured games at the Oval, Edgbaston and Lord's but a "bio-secure" environment became the new norm for resumption of international cricket.
What is surprising, though, is the fact that ICC seems to be tying itself in knots in order to support the ECB effort. ICC has published a set of guidelines that will be applicable to all forms of recognised cricket and attempts to address the concerns raised by the prevalent Covid19 pandemic.
First things first, it did away with the posting of neutral umpires for Test match cricket and added a second review per innings for each team through DRS.
One of the most significant guidelines is allowing a team to substitute a player who shows symptoms of Covid19 infection. Its the responsibility of the match referee to ensure a like-for-like replacement as far as possible. But the guidelines are silent on how many such substitution one team is allowed in a Test match or even after how many substitutions will the game be halted as a precautionary measure.
Similarly, use of saliva to shine the cricket ball has been henceforth banned though players are allowed to use ONLY sweat, since application of artificial substances continues to be prohibited. And then follows the almost ridiculous suggestion of fielders asked to sanitize their hands each time they handle the ball.
Is that even possible, or practical? Fielders relaying the ball back to the bowler will each need to clean their hands, or for that matter, does the bowler sanitize hands after the over or after each delivery?
Umpires are suggested to use gloves when they handle the ball and are also required to keep a sharp eye on ball management. Teams will be docked five penalty runs if found in violation of the saliva-use ban but match officials may have little option but to go with evidence of television cameras! Smelling the ball is OUT, as is checking the feel and texture with fingertips. That leaves a lot of room for a judgement call, especially when home umpires will be officiating the game.
Similarly, social distancing norms to be maintained as much as possible, especially when celebrating fall of wickets, but limiting use of dressing room facilities yet again borders on the absurd. On the one hand, players are restricted from handing over items of personal attire/ use like jumpers, caps and goggles to the umpire, but where does a bowler leave them if not in the dressing room?
Changes for the sake of making changes makes a mockery of the entire exercise. ICC needs to evaluate its requirements in greater detail before launching such guidelines!
Yes, ECB alone stands to lose more than 250 million British pounds if no international cricket is played in the summer but it may have been a better option to restart the game with the shorter format which would entail fewer risks. After all Covid19 substitutions are not permissible for the limited overs contests as these are completed within a single day.
A couple of ODIs and T10Is might have helped test the waters before falling back upon the five-day Tests, given the chance of bigger damage if, heavens forbid, a player or official tests positive for Covid19 infection during a game!
There's still time for ICC to sit down with ECB and the West Indies Cricket Board along with broadcasters to re-work the schedule for a safer resumption!
Southampton and Manchester's Old Trafford have been picked by the England and Wales Cricket Board as both venues have hotels attached to the ground facilities itself. Quite a comedown from the original itinerary that figured games at the Oval, Edgbaston and Lord's but a "bio-secure" environment became the new norm for resumption of international cricket.
What is surprising, though, is the fact that ICC seems to be tying itself in knots in order to support the ECB effort. ICC has published a set of guidelines that will be applicable to all forms of recognised cricket and attempts to address the concerns raised by the prevalent Covid19 pandemic.
First things first, it did away with the posting of neutral umpires for Test match cricket and added a second review per innings for each team through DRS.
One of the most significant guidelines is allowing a team to substitute a player who shows symptoms of Covid19 infection. Its the responsibility of the match referee to ensure a like-for-like replacement as far as possible. But the guidelines are silent on how many such substitution one team is allowed in a Test match or even after how many substitutions will the game be halted as a precautionary measure.
Similarly, use of saliva to shine the cricket ball has been henceforth banned though players are allowed to use ONLY sweat, since application of artificial substances continues to be prohibited. And then follows the almost ridiculous suggestion of fielders asked to sanitize their hands each time they handle the ball.
Is that even possible, or practical? Fielders relaying the ball back to the bowler will each need to clean their hands, or for that matter, does the bowler sanitize hands after the over or after each delivery?
Umpires are suggested to use gloves when they handle the ball and are also required to keep a sharp eye on ball management. Teams will be docked five penalty runs if found in violation of the saliva-use ban but match officials may have little option but to go with evidence of television cameras! Smelling the ball is OUT, as is checking the feel and texture with fingertips. That leaves a lot of room for a judgement call, especially when home umpires will be officiating the game.
Similarly, social distancing norms to be maintained as much as possible, especially when celebrating fall of wickets, but limiting use of dressing room facilities yet again borders on the absurd. On the one hand, players are restricted from handing over items of personal attire/ use like jumpers, caps and goggles to the umpire, but where does a bowler leave them if not in the dressing room?
Changes for the sake of making changes makes a mockery of the entire exercise. ICC needs to evaluate its requirements in greater detail before launching such guidelines!
Yes, ECB alone stands to lose more than 250 million British pounds if no international cricket is played in the summer but it may have been a better option to restart the game with the shorter format which would entail fewer risks. After all Covid19 substitutions are not permissible for the limited overs contests as these are completed within a single day.
A couple of ODIs and T10Is might have helped test the waters before falling back upon the five-day Tests, given the chance of bigger damage if, heavens forbid, a player or official tests positive for Covid19 infection during a game!
There's still time for ICC to sit down with ECB and the West Indies Cricket Board along with broadcasters to re-work the schedule for a safer resumption!
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