‘It’s like riding a bike’: Swann believes spinners will face no issues adjusting to return of cricket

International cricket resumed with the England-West Indies Test series on July 8.

Graeme Swann | AFPFormer England cricketer Graeme Swann has advised the spinners not to complicate things by overthinking once the game resumes in full swing following the COVID-19 hiatus.

According to Swann, spinners won't face much problems in adapting to the new rules imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 among players.

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In May, the ICC came up with multiple recommendations for its member nations on how they can safely resume training and on-field play in wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Regular hand sanitising when in contact with the ball, no loo or shower breaks while training, minimising time spent in the changing room before and after a game, no use of saliva on the ball and no handing over of personal items (cap, sunglasses, towels) to fellow teammates or the on-field umpires were among the other guidelines issued by the apex body.

"It's all in the head, once you get to the top of professional cricket and international cricket as well, you are brilliant in what you do, you are very very good, your body knows exactly what it is doing," Swann said while speaking on Star Sports show Cricket Connected.

"It all in your head, no matter how much time these guys have off, muscle memory does not disappear. It's like riding a bike, you still remember how to do it.

"So the guys who convince themselves early on, doesn't matter about rhythm, doesn't matter about this doesn't matter about that, how long you have been off, I'm just going to do it, I am going to remember the feeling.

"For a spinner, just flicking the ball on your fingers at home, that's enough for me, just make sure the ball still feels the same in your hands," he added.

International cricket, which was on standstill since March following the outbreak of novel Coronavirus, returned on July 8 with the England-West Indies Test series.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 19 Jul, 2020

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