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The last international cricket game that took place before the game closed (Australia vs. New Zealand at SCG) was a prelude to what is likely to be at least the near future when the sport resumes, but Ross Taylor has Admittedly, The Closed Door Game felt more like a warm-up game than a full-blown fight.
During the night, the match in Sydney on March 15 went from being the stage to welcoming around 20,000 spectators to taking place on empty ground with the crunch of bat and ball as the clearest sound of the day and cricket players climbing the stands to find six.
It remains highly uncertain when international play will resume; There is still hope for a season in English, while Australia and New Zealand have kept their Covid-19 numbers low, but one thing that seems to be in doubt is that it will be a considerable time before the crowds return to the stadiums.
“It was pretty weird getting into the game. There were a lot of rumors about the game being canceled and it all happened very quickly,” Taylor recalled. “In the context of the match, going up the preparation felt a bit strange. For me it was like a warm-up game, it didn’t feel like a real international match, but I guess once you get into it it’s no different if you’re playing a competitive game of cricket in the backyard or a club game, you give it your all.
“But I’m not going to lie, it felt very strange. At the same time, there could be some games like that, so I’m sure players will have to adapt to that and get used to it.”
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was interviewed via Spidercam after launching alongside Aaron Finch and then had to motivate his team in an atmosphere of near silence. However, he did not believe that the general standard of competition suffered and he expects players to make the most of it when the sport returns.
“Cricket can definitely be played at a high level. All the boys were professionals in the way they did their business,” he said. “It’s weird though, and creating your own atmosphere, I don’t think you can create what a full house could do when there’s just no one there and all you hear is the crack of a cricket bat.”
“You have to adapt and that may be something that players will have to understand to allow them to go back to the park. When they take something away from you, you are often more than happy to commit to go back to playing. is to play cricket. “
Although there are still 10 months to go, with countries grappling with the risks of mass gatherings before a vaccine or additional treatment for Covid-19 is available, it is possible that the 50-year-old Women’s World Cup will be played next year by New Zealand. February. on empty grounds. For all Suzie Bates, the prospect of such a thing doesn’t feel good at all.
“That would be a huge disappointment, especially with how far the women’s game has come,” she said. “I think if you had asked me five years ago, I would have said it would not have been much different. Growing up, most of my cricket felt like it was being played behind closed doors, but today with the attention we are receiving and being at home it would be a shame to play like that.
“I personally prefer to wait until we can do it normally when all of this is cleared up, the teams can travel and we are allowed to crowd on the ground.”
“I feel like New Zealand Cricket is now in a position where they realize how important this World Cup is to cricket in New Zealand, not just women’s cricket, but cricket in general, and I feel like they’re really excited about the opportunity to see how many people can enter land across the country
“Obviously it’s on television, but it’s about the atmosphere they can create, so I think they will be doing everything they can to make sure they can host in the usual way. If changes need to be made, I have faith that they will the best they can. ” have it with the crowds. “
