Cricket is being played inside a bio-secure environment in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Players and support staff are only shuffling between their team hotels and the cricket stadiums for outdoor practice sessions and matches. Nobody is allowed to break the bio-bubble and travel around due to the Coronavirus threat.
No wonder, players are finding it mentally challenging and now England pacer Jofra Archer has shared his thoughts on it.
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According to Archer, the repetitive nature of being in a bio-bubble can take a mental toll on cricketers and he won’t mind walking out of the controlled environment if it gets “too overbearing”.
“Funny enough, looked at the schedule today, then I can say it is going to be a long year and February just started.
“It is going to be a long, long year, we have got few series coming up and I think body (workload) management is going to be essential if I want to play everything,” Jofra, who is currently touring India with the England cricket team, said during a virtual press conference on Tuesday (February 2).
Asked if he is mentally ready to be in a bubble for long period, Archer replied: “I don’t have a choice really (laughs)… I don’t mind, to be honest, because I know I will get my time away, so I am just going to focus on the job I have now. If it gets too overbearing, there is no shame in saying that.”
He was sharp in his reaction when questioned about all those who are critical of players leaving the bio-bubble.
“Well, anyone criticising has never spent a week in a bubble or months I should say. One golfer left after four days, we have been in here for almost a year now. At the end of the day, humans are social people and I especially,” Archer said.
“If you haven’t (had) a great game or not feeling good with your cricket, then there is no escape, no way to go. I had six weeks away, Jos (Buttler) is done after this game for little bit, Sam (Curran) is gone, also they are making a priority, everyone gets time away so we can come back refreshed and ready to go.”
Archer hinted that he might be bowling short spells if England opt to go with three pacers instead of two in the first Test at Chepauk.
“It will depend probably on the combination of the team. If its three seamers, guess I won’t be bowling long spells but depends. Short or long doesn’t matter to me,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)