Howzat?

Ok, I admit it. I'm getting twitchy. It's only seven weeks since lockdown was introduced, although it now feels like a lifetime. I'm longing to get out and about but I know that I can't. I also know that even when we do get a green light (or perhaps just an amber light) it ain't going to be anything like "normal" as we knew it before late March.

Putting aside the economy, travel and so on, there are some serious implications for what many of us consider "normal" activities. Take cricket for example. My club Dinas Powys CC is a small village club playing in a regional league, putting out three sides on a Saturday as well as Sunday and Midweek XI's. However, if we are able to return to playing this season (and that's currently a huge "if"), we will undoubtedly have to apply some form of social distancing principles. We discussed this briefly at our Committee meeting last evening, but then deferred it on the basis that cricket's governing body, the ECB and our League (South East Wales Cricket League) will almost certainly provide some guidance on this at the appropriate time, but it could impact our game in the following ways:

• Changing into playing kit. Packing 11 blokes into a small changing room probably won't be a great idea, so we'd either have to stagger it, or arrive at the ground ready to play in our gear - a real throwback to the 70's and 80's. OK, it's not the worst problem in the world, but after playing a match when you're hot, sweaty and dirty getting back in the car - yuk. 
• Passing the ball back to the bowler after it's been bowled, normally entails 4-5 players touching the ball in short order. Will that be allowed? Maybe we'll have to use a scoop.
• Spitting on the ball to help shine it (forgive me for this one, but it happens).  Seems like a massive no-no. Maybe the rules need to be changed to allow the use of leather polish or sandpaper to help? No, I thought not.
• No standing in the slips chatting to your mate about where to go for an after match pint, unless you're more than 2 metres apart. Plenty of nicks going for runs in future.
• Will the wicketkeeper be able to stand up to the stumps? He'll have to sledge from at least six feet in future. We'll never see a stumping again.
• Will the umpire be safe to stand at the non-strikers end with bowler passing directly next to him  every time he bowls? Perhaps they'll invent an umpires "kiosk'" or umpires will have to wear hazmat suits.
• What happens if two people go for the same ball in the field? "After you mate",....."no, after you..." Meanwhile the batters run six.
• Batters won't be able to meet mid-pitch between overs and whisper their attacking (or defensive) intentions to each other. It might stop the glove tapping though - that might be a result!
• Teas might be ok providing safe distance is kept with tape markers on the floor and people sitting apart, although communal teas might not be a great idea, and we end up with everyone bringing their own.
• Scorers will have to sit further apart and only one person will be allowed to touch the scoreboard during a match 
• Taking drinks interval will need to be more spaced out - maybe the drinks will have to be put out and people fetch their own rather than having stacked cups and jugs with over a dozen people in close proximity.
• And unfortunately, sadly no after match beers as pubs likely to still be closed. Could bring cans I suppose....

Will it ever be the same again?

Until tomorrow....

#isolationlife
#stayhomesavelives