What now for cricket in 2020? Four key questions
The coronavirus may have struck shortly before the English cricket season was due to start but it threatens to have major implications for the game worldwide.
English officials still believe they can fit a full international programme of three-Test series against both the West Indies and Pakistan, as well as oneday internationals with Australia and Ireland, into a season that won’t start until July 1 at the earliest.
But there is now an expectation matches will have to be played behind closed doors, in the short-term at least, as a way of stopping the spread of
Covid-19. That would, however, still allow the England and Wales Cricket Board to honour lucrative broadcast contracts and avoid the nightmare scenario of a completely wiped out season that could cost the organisation £380m (R8.14bn).
Below we look at the key issues confronting cricket amid the pandemic.
WILL TEAMS GO ON TOUR?
West Indies and Pakistan, two of cricket’s less well-off major teams, have both made encouraging noises about touring England, subject to health concerns, and appear to ready to factor into their planning a 14-day quarantine on arrival in Britain, because of UK government regulations.
Matches are set to be played at “bio-secure” venues such as Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl or Old Trafford that have on-site hotels.
“We are trying to get to England in early July so that we can get the quarantine done,” Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Wasim Khan said.
Australia were meant to play three Twenty20s and three one-day internationals in July but may delay their visit to later in the season after seeing how the West Indies and Pakistan
series pan out.
“Obviously we won’t jeopardise the safety of the players,” Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts said.
“But the best test of that is the West Indian and Pakistan tours of England before we’re due to tour.”
WHAT WILL CRICKET LOOK LIKE?
Even if a rescheduled series between England and the West Indies starts in July, the game itself will look different.
Not only will there be no spectators but wicket celebrations such as “high fives” are set to be banned according to International
Cricket Council guidelines issued last week.
Umpires have also been instructed to wear gloves to minimise the risk of infection, with bowlers no longer handing their cap and sweater to officials for the same reason.
Another “interim” measure, which still requires approval at this month’s vote, would see bowlers banned from using saliva to shine the ball to aid swing, though they will still be allowed to apply their own sweat.
Travel restrictions could see two umpires from a home nation stand in a Test for the first time since 1994 when the ICC started moving towards neutral officials to counter accusations of bias.
Chris Broad, the only Englishman on the ICC’s elite panel of referees, may have to officiate in matches involving his son Stuart, the England fast bowler.
The ICC’s cricket committee also said last week each team should be awarded an additional DRS review per innings.
An ICC board meeting on Thursday could see the men’s Twenty20 World Cup, due to held in Australia from October 18, postponed.
Problems over flying in 16 teams to Australia may be reason enough to delay the event by a year.
That would allow the already postponed franchise Indian Premier League, the world’s wealthiest T20 competition, to go ahead in its place.
Manoj Badale, a part-owner of the Rajasthan Royals, told the London Daily Telegraph last month: “No IPL (in 2020) would be a big $600m (R10.5bn) loss for the global cricket economy.”
South African director of cricket Graeme Smith has called for India’s Sourav Ganguly, a fellow former test captain, to become the next ICC chair. —