Former England cricketer-turned-commentator Nasser Hussain believes that the players will have to let go of their old habits and re-train their brains for the current scenario and new guidelines, as cricket is gearing up to return following months of shutdown due to the global outbreak of the Coronavirus.
As England set to become the first international country to resume cricket next month when they host West Indies in a three-match Test series on July, 8, 16, and 24, the former captain said their biggest challenge will be "training their brain" not to shine the ball or mass celebrate wickets.
Hussain believes that players and teams will have to create their own atmosphere while playing at the empty stands, without shining the ball with saliva and not indulging in celebrations like high-fives, hugs – which all are banned by the ICC to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
However, the commentator said the players from both England and West Indies teams would not be too negatively affected by the fact of playing at the empty stadiums during the forthcoming Test series.
Hussain told Sky Sports News on Tuesday (June 2): “Some of the stuff they have trained their brain for 10 years to do, shining a cricket ball, celebrating a wicket, will be the difficult thing for them. They are used to putting saliva on a cricket ball and can't do that anymore, so they will have to re-train the brain.”
He further added, “There will be a slight effect but a lot of these players would have played in venues where there aren't any crowds in England domestically and they have been to the UAE [to play Pakistan] where there is not much of a crowd.”
Hussain signed off by saying, “I'm afraid, unless England is in town and hoards of fans go over, West Indies at times play in front of low crowds. It's not ideal but they have no other choice. They will have to create their own atmosphere.”
(With Sky Sports Inputs)
