Sri Lankan head coach Mickey Arthur was stuck in the COVID-19 lockdown caused by the global Coronavirus pandemic in Colombo for two months, but he recently got to step outside after government relaxed the “curfew a little bit” last week.
Arthur had been in self-quarantine for the last eight weeks in the Taj Samudra hotel in Colombo due to the COVID-19 lockdown, but the relaxation has given him the opportunity to be outside the hotel and the South African cricket coach said it was “like being released out of jail”.
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The head coach further revealed that he visited Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara's home in Galle last Friday and celebrated his 52nd birthday with his family on May 17.
As per ESPNcricinfo, Arthur said: “They relaxed the curfew a little bit, so last Friday I went with Kumar Sangakkara to his house in Galle and celebrated the birthday with his family. After eight weeks in lockdown, in the Taj Samudra on my own, to be outside the hotel was like being released out of jail.”
He further added, “Grant Flower [Sri Lanka batting coach] is the only one of our staff with me, but he is in another hotel. It was pretty lonely. Though I did manage to escape curfew to go and see him.”
Meanwhile, the sporting world including cricket has been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic leading many to lose jobs due to the financial crisis because no games are happening for the last three months and still no clarity about it and Arthur also admitted the financial struggle to the cricketing world.
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Arthur further explained, “I just see how badly the cricket world has been disrupted, but that's just a microcosm of what's happening in the real world. People are losing their lives, governments are at loggerheads. It's almost surreal. The cricketing world is going to struggle financially.
The world as we know is going to change. Actually, I shook hands with people when I was there and they were wishing me. And then we said, "Oh, we shouldn't have done that." But it's amazing how your habits change. Grant and I kind of bumped elbows when he popped in for tea, though I just want to give my hand out and give a good hug. Everybody is a little apprehensive. We have just become accustomed to washing hands, using hand sanitizer, and wearing a mask when you go out - those are the norm now.”
The Lankan coach further revealed that he had set SWOT analysis for his cricketers who are in isolation due to the outbreak of the deadly COVID-19.
Arthur signed off by saying, “(Chuckles) I did set a homework assignment. Basically, a SWOT analysis of strengths and weaknesses. I break it up into three different headings: mental, technical, and physical. With each player listing what they feel they need to improve and what they think they are good at.”
(With ESPNcricinfo Inputs)
