The Coronavirus pandemic brought a halt to all cricketing action around the world with the fate of the IPL 2020 and the ICC T20 World Cup hanging in the balance with ICC mulling all options given the extraordinary circumstances.
ICC’s cricket committee has already come up with new rules and regulations to ensure COVID-19 doesn’t hamper the game once it resumes on July 8 with England taking on the West Indies in a three-match Test series.
Ban on the use of saliva, sanitizing the ball if saliva is used, COVID-19 substitutes, and cricket in empty stadiums are some of the new things that were introduced by the committee, which will change the game considerably for the near future.
This sentiment was shared by former India captain Rahul Dravid, who said that until a vaccine is found for this pandemic, the new way of playing cricket will have to become the norm.
India will face ‘bigger and stiffer challenge’ in Australia with Smith, Warner around: Rahul Dravid
"Until a vaccine comes on board and we are confident around the world... I'm no medical professional but from what I heard the virus is not going away for a long time now but we will get to a point where we will deal with it a lot better," said Dravid on Sony Ten Pit Stop.
"Until then cricket is going to be different. I think cricket is nothing but a reflection of life in a lot of ways so I can't see how it's going to stay untouched," he further added.
Things will change in the way fall of wickets are celebrated and dressing room manners are undertaken by the players.
"Whether it be how we play, the dressing room etiquette and celebration etiquette, and getting used to playing matches with not many people watching you or no one watching you as we will see in the next few months," he said.
The West Indies touring party will be tested for COVID-19 before taking part in the series which will be played in a "bio-secure" environment. The bio-secure protocols will restrict movement in and out of the venues, so a group of reserve players has traveled with the West Indies team to train and help prepare the Test squad and ensure replacements are available in case of any injury.
Talking about the upcoming series between Windies and England, Dravid said, "The series is really going to be a good test. It will be interesting to see what happens in a month's time. Hopefully, it will go ahead and they are able to play it safely. It will give us an idea as to how things will work.”
Dravid also opined on the saliva-ban to shine the ball, especially under English conditions.
"A lot of people were saying that in England if you will use sweat it has the same effect as saliva so it shouldn't stop you from shining the ball. The medical people have said that the virus does not get transferred with sweat. But I'm not sure if they will allow a foreign substance on the ball at the moment they will see how sweat works,” he said.
"It will be strange and different," said Dravid about matches in front of empty stands.
"Cricket players are performers and there is that connection with the crowd. Players are professionals, they will still practice well and compete but they will miss that interaction and noise and a sense of buzz that a crowd creates. But you have to deal with it and it's better than no cricket at all and I'm sure the players will eventually get used to it,” he signed off.
(IANS inputs)
