Race issue new challenge
THE first Test of COVID-19 times has come as a relief, a challenge and to some extent a reminder of things cricket has known or suspected for years.
Race remains an issue the game, like society, must wrestle with and challenge itself over. Australian cricket will have watched the opening of Sky Sports’ coverage of the match at Southampton and the scenes later when the players took a knee and the West Indies side raised a gloved fist and wonder how it must proceed in the summer ahead.
Should the Test summer follow the plans tentatively laid down, Australia will face Zimbabwe and then India.
Should the cards fall as expected it will be India’s Virat Kohli walking out to the toss some time in November or December.
Australian white-ball captain Aaron Finch believes players must acknowledge the injustice suffered by coloured teammates and opponents.
“That will come up no doubt, that’s obviously a huge issue and something we are all — whatever way we can support it is important,” Finch said recently. “There [needs to be] equality in everything not just sport, we are in a world where we probably get a little bit more exposure than other people and I think it’s going to be important.”
A less important issue arose in the first days of the Test and it found its birth in the pandemic-enforced decision to allow home umpires to stand in games. Neutral umpires have been in place for more than two decades in the international game.
Even with the introduction of DRS the craft remains a point of controversy and debate within the game, but five decisions during the West Indies innings were a reminder of just how controversial it used to be. The two local umpires made five clear errors in the first 90 overs ... and all of them favoured the home side.