Black Caps in self-isolation
Black Caps cricketers have gone into 14-day self-isolation as a lengthy off-season looms amid more potential series and tournament cancellations.
New Zealand Cricket confirmed yesterday that all 15 players and support staff who returned from Sydney last weekend had gone into lockdown at home after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s directive on Wednesday. Ardern advised all returning travellers to self-isolate for two weeks amid the Covid-19 outbreak, even if they arrived in the country before Sunday night’s cut-off.
NZC public affairs manager Richard Boock told Stuff: ‘‘They [Black Caps players and touring staff] have all gone into selfisolation.
‘‘We’ve passed on all the details about what self-isolation means and as far as we know they’re all following it strictly.’’
NZC’S Auckland headquarters would have a trial self-isolation day today when staff would work from home, Boock said, as other workplaces around the country were doing.
Captain Kane Williamson and his team played one Chappellhadlee Trophy one-day international against Australia last Friday, suffering a 71-run defeat at an empty Sydney Cricket Ground which was closed to spectators. They returned home on Saturday night after the remaining two ODIS were postponed, along with the three scheduled T20 internationals in Dunedin, Auckland and Christchurch.
Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson and team manager Mike Sandle flew into Auckland a day later, on Sunday, after Ferguson tested negative to coronavirus. He reported a sore throat and went into isolation at the team hotel after he was tested post-match.
The million-dollar question for all top-level sport now is, when will it resume?
Under NZC’S banner the White Ferns are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in May, while the Black
Caps’ next assignment is a tour of Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands and the West Indies starting in early June to begin preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia starting in October.
No decision has been made on either tour yet, but the White Ferns look almost certain to stay home and the Black Caps odyssey must be in serious doubt too, due to government advice and travel restrictions.
It is understood the cancellation of both would also save NZC upwards of $1 million. The governing body has time on its side in terms of potential financial losses of its own, but would be hit hard if parts of the home season were postponed, with Bangladesh and West Indies scheduled as the first visitors in October ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Williamson, Ferguson, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Jimmy Neesham and Mitchell Mcclenaghan – the latter also in self-isolation after returning from the Pakistan Super League – are contracted to the Indian Premier League which has been delayed until April 15.
Talks are ongoing and the lucrative IPL will be further delayed amid the global pandemic, with a July-september window or an offshore tournament the latest reported options being explored.
NZC has granted the required No Objection Certificates to the players who have requested them, and said it wouldn’t stand in the way of anyone plying their trade overseas when cricket resumes. Contracted players are required first for Black Caps duty but can play elsewhere if free of international commitments.
‘‘It’s only advice and we can’t instruct them what to do. All we can do is give them the best advice and latest information and contacts in the areas where they’re going,’’ Boock said.
‘‘Right now it’s a holding pattern for us and we’re keeping the players informed. We’re working closely with the CPA [Cricket Players’ Association] who’ve been fantastic. It’s one of those times where you all pull together.’’
White Ferns Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine are in line to play the annual IPL Challenge Series from May 18-24 which also looks in grave doubt.
Matt Henry, Corey Anderson, Jeetan Patel, BJ Watling, Hamish Rutherford and Corey Anderson are other New Zealand cricketers already granted NOC’S to play in England.
The county season is scheduled to start in early April and faces significant disruption, while the inaugural edition of The Hundred in England is under a cloud too.