World News – AU – From bubble prisons to Black Lives Matter, cricket faced reality in 2020

Cricket lost part of the year’s games, including a World Cup that had to be postponed, and players were relegated to life in « luxury prisons » when the game bounced back and continues to do so The scars of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The sweet sound of the bat meeting ball fell silent in March as New Zealand renewed its trans-Tasmanian rivalry in Australia and the Pakistan Super League Twenty20 competition neared the end of business.

The novel coronavirus outbreak forced players inside, leaving several cricket boards, including some of the more affluent ones, in the red.

Half a dozen test series could not be played, which led to a calendar jam and forced a change in the determination of the finalists for the test world championship next year (WTC).

The Women’s Twenty20 World Championship, which Meg Lanning took place in Australia on Aug.. March more than 86. Won 000 spectators at Melbourne Cricket Ground, had a close escape, but the men’s tournament was not so lucky.

While the pandemic continued, the ruling International Cricket Council (ICC) waited until July before postponing the Australian edition of the tournament to 2022.

While the game was taking a rare four-month hiatus, the Boards put in place cost-cutting measures to deal with the financial fallout from the pandemic.

Several boards, including Cricket Australia, made up the lion’s share of their workforce, while the England and Wales Cricket Board narrowly escaped what its chief executive Tom Harrison later described as « financial oblivion ». .

The ECB postponed the opening edition of The Hundred competition while its players, men and women, accepted wage cuts.

International cricket resumed after a 117-day hiatus when England hosted West Indies in a test series of three tests in bio-safe locations in Southampton and Manchester in July.

This « new normal » of living in isolation and playing behind closed doors provided a template for the game to continue under extraordinary circumstances.

While the immediate reaction of the action-hungry players was that of relief, the strain on bubble life soon manifested itself.

English all-rounder Tom Curran retired from the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia, citing bladder fatigue days after compatriot Tom Banton retired from that Twenty20 tournament for the same reason.

« It can be quite difficult, » said South African speedster Kagiso Rabada after experiencing bubble life in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the United Arab Emirates.

« You can’t interact. You basically lost your freedom. It’s almost like being in luxury prisons, « the 25-year-old said in a virtual press conference, another innovation forced by the pandemic.

India captain Virat Kohli said the toll that bubble hopping means on a player should be considered when determining the length of cricket tours.

« These things need serious thought, » said Kohli, who is 32nd in the IPL bubble. Birthday celebrated.

Meanwhile, the IPL proved to be a complete success, despite being held in a different country and outside of its original window with a new title sponsor.

However, concerns about Covid-19 earlier this month burst the biosecure bubble in South Africa and prompted England to return home after canceling its ODI streak.

Cricket also threw its weight behind the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, with several teams taking the knee.

The ICC, which elected New Zealander Greg Barclay as its new chair in November, has watered down its code of conduct to effectively approve such expressions of solidarity for racial equality.

Australia started its summer of cricket with a « barefoot circle » in Sydney, which campaigned strongly against racism and the recognition of indigenous Australians.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s relentless campaign to convince top teams to address their safety concerns and tour the country bore fruit when England, New Zealand and South Africa signed up to visit in 2021.

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Cricket, Australian men’s cricket team, Black Lives Matter, ICC World Cricket Championship