England fast bowler Mark Wood reckons the crisis that the world is enduring because of the deadly Coronavirus outbreak has put sportspersons on the same level of vulnerability to that of the common human being. Thus, bursting the bubble they could sometimes find themselves in, with their luxurious lifestyle and not much care of the outside world. 

Read Also: Buttler confirms England considering option to field two teams on same day

“There are times when professional sportsmen and women exist in our own bubble. The coronavirus crisis has burst that bubble. Instead of thinking about fitness, performance or the next match, our concerns are exactly the same as everyone else’s," Wood wrote in a column for the BBC. 

The contagious virus has infected nearly 1.5 million people across the globe since originating in Wuhan, China in December last year, claiming over 80,000 lives. "It’s a scary time, one that has made me anxious for the health of my family and friends," Wood stressed. "I’ve worried about my parents and grandparents. I’ve got friends who work in the NHS and it’s so sad to hear what they are going through, along with all the stress that is being put on hospitals."

"Just because I play cricket for England doesn’t make me immune from the challenges the whole country is facing. I’ve queued up outside the supermarket and I’ve shaved my head because I’m not sure when I’ll next be able to get a haircut," added the 30-year-old. 

Wood is spending time with his family, taking care of his love ones and hoping to soon recover from the injury which ruled him out of the now-suspended Sri Lanka tour.

"Before the Coronavirus crisis ramped up, I had the disappointment of being ruled out of the tour to Sri Lanka ... The side injury is similar to what I suffered in the World Cup final, just not quite as a severe," he wrote.

"It’s great when I hear captain Joe Root talk about me being part of the plans for the next Ashes tour, so I’ll be doing everything I can to be on that plane in the winter of 2021. After all, if my side doesn’t heal during a period of lockdown, it never will."

“It was my own fault it happened. I felt it in the second Twenty20 in South Africa, but thought I would be OK to play in the third game. It only made it miles worse," Wood added. 

"From my point of view, there are some really encouraging signs. I played a lot of cricket in the World Cup, then in South Africa, I was able to play back-to-back Tests."

Wood informed that the team management has created an individual programme for each England player to stay physically and mentally fit in this phase.

"England have sent us watches that track running, and each player has an individual programme," he wrote. "I’ve learnt that there is absolutely no way to cheat the system - even moving my arm around really fast doesn’t work."

"I’ve been doing online cycling sessions with James Anderson and Stuart Broad, with those two veterans leaving me behind."

"I’ve asked the strength coach why I can’t keep up, but he was too polite to say it is because I have legs like a tiny sparrow," Wood added. 

"I haven’t quite figured out what my event is yet, but it could be dancing."

(Inputs from PTI)