Is cricket safe?

[wilts rover]

Can someone with greater knowledge of the sport than me please explain what happened in the sport of cricket today.

During his interview on LBC this morning Johnson said it was not safe for cricket to restart in the UK

During his presser this evening Johnson said it was safe for cricket to restart in the UK.

So what has happened during the day to make something that wasn't safe at 9.00am, safe at 5.00pm? Anyone know 'cos I missed it?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/53276717

[drfchound]

Owizit.

[BigH]

I've been in a a light-hearted discussion with a member of Sage about this and we joke that county cricket is probably the one safe sport to be able to go to given the social distancing among 'crowds' (I use the term very lightly).

I argued that crouching around the wicket might not be the best idea so spin bowling might be outlawed for a while (or at least allowing fielders to contravene the 1-2 metre rule around the wicket).

Otherwise, I can't help but feel that this is a classic example of British eccentricity gone mad. I mean, obsessing about a game in the open air with 14 people spread out across an area the size of two rugby pitches.

Only we as a nation could do that!

[drfchound]

Yep, and bowlers putting saliva on the ball, the batsman hits it, the fielder catches it then wipes the sweat off his face.

[SydneyRover]

Lots of spitting and nose clearing in outdoor sports, odd you don't see them doing it in basketball or 5 a side, indoor cricket etc 

[BigH]

Yep, and bowlers putting saliva on the ball, the batsman hits it, the fielder catches it then wipes the sweat off his face.

Come on Hound. How often does that happen?

Or more precisely, how often would a catching fielder behave like that under the current circumstances.

Get a grip man!

[drfchound]

Yep, and bowlers putting saliva on the ball, the batsman hits it, the fielder catches it then wipes the sweat off his face.

Come on Hound. How often does that happen?

Or more precisely, how often would a catching fielder behave like that under the current circumstances.

Get a grip man!

Big H, it isn’t just the catching though is it, even if there isn’t a catch the fielders have to pick up the ball, it is instinctive  for people to wipe sweat away from their faces.
Also, what about the way the ball gets back to the bowler from the wicket keeper?
It goes via three or four fielders, each one handling the ball.

Tennis is similar too, in a singles match, both players are handling the ball, four players in a doubles match.
Players get sweaty, players wipe their faces.
It happens.

[NickDRFC]

Test cricket was already OK’d but shining the ball with saliva had been banned. It’ll be the same at club level.

In terms of handling the ball people have been allowed to play tennis for weeks so what’s different to that? Cricket generally is not an especially physically exerting sport for the fielding side so I don’t think wiping away sweat is too much of a concern, a bowler could use a small towel to wipe his face that he can just tuck into his trousers and if outfield players do get sweaty they can just rub their faces on their shirts (or have a towel themselves).

As BigH says, the risk level is very low, and if anyone has similar concerns to you they can always make a personal decision not to play - it’s understandable and a fair choice, but continuing to ban the sport doesn’t make any sense given the concessions elsewhere.

[drfchound]

Yes Nick, you are right, it is up to the individual to calculate the risk and decide accordingly.
I have just driven past the Ingram Arms in Hatfield.
There is a group of about fifty young men crowded together, no evidence at all of  social distancing, having their beer outside.
I guess they think it is safe enough.

[BillyStubbsTears]

But it's NOT up to individuals to calculate the risk.

That is identical to saying it is up to individuals to decide what the appropriate speed limit should be, on a road they have never driven on, in the dark.

[drfchound]

Of course the individual can calculate the risk, when they are deciding whether to play.
Which was in response to what Nick was saying.
Nothing at all to do with what you are blathering on about.

[BillyStubbsTears]

They have no idea what the infection state of the other players is. Or what cleansing precautions the other players are going to stick to.

No one is "calculating a risk" in anything we do in respect of this virus. We guess and gamble.

Apologies in advance if my spelling it out comes over as patronising.

[drfchound]

As ever, you can’t help yourself.
However many times anyone puts over their point of view you keep coming back and telling them why they are wrong, in your opinion of course.

[BillyStubbsTears]

You missed the "with reasons given" bit Hound. You could try to address that instead of resorting to insults.

[drfchound]

I simply made an observation.
If you take that as an insult you aren’t as thick skinned as I imagined you might be.

[selby]

  It has never been safe, people get killed playing the game.

[BillyStubbsTears]

I simply made an observation.
If you take that as an insult you aren’t as thick skinned as I imagined you might be.

I'm rhino skinned in here Hound. I'm just regularly bemused by people complaining about being insulted, when they reply to a reasonable comment by ignoring the comment and instead attacking the poster. I guess I expect too much.

[drfchound]

I simply made an observation.
If you take that as an insult you aren’t as thick skinned as I imagined you might be.

I'm rhino skinned in here Hound. I'm just regularly bemused by people complaining about being insulted, when they reply to a reasonable comment by ignoring the comment and instead attacking the poster. I guess I expect too much.

Yep, YOU bemused me by saying that I had insulted you.

[selby]

  Cornhill insurance sent a cicular around the local clubs touting for business when they used to sponsor the test matches probably mid 1970s. In it they  said that cricket was then Britain's most dangerous sport with three or four fatalities each season, mainly fielders close to the wicket being close to the wicket, and broken arms and fingers a common injury as was a broken jaw.
  Helmets will help obviously as will body protection that was then not available, but the ball is still hard.
  As for covid I think it would be safer than most other sports if the players were sensible.

[Draytonian III]

My local league starts on the 18th but games can be played this weekend, there’s no polishing of the ball with salvia or sweat allowed, but spraying furniture polish on your trousers is 😉

[Campsall rover]

Can’t get round the fact that an overcrowded pub is safer than 1.500
( Ave gate for 4 day match at Headingley ) spectators for a county championship match, in a ground that holds 19.000 ( Headingley )
social distancing would be no problem at all.

Even in smaller grounds like Chelmsford, Northampton, Derby etc etc there would be no problem as their Championship gates are much smaller.

[Colemans Left Hook]

My local league starts on the 18th but games can be played this weekend, there’s no polishing of the ball with salvia or sweat allowed, but spraying furniture polish on your trousers is 😉

reminds me of the real reason F.S. Trueman  put all that brylcream on his hair and then put his fingers through his hair before he bowled

sithe  😉

[Draytonian III]

On a tour to India in the mid 70’s the home side complained about John Lever ,left arm opening bowler from Essex because he put Vaseline on his eyebrows to stop the sweat dripping into his eyes

[selby]

  They were thinking of how the Vaseline was getting on the one side of the ball mate.

[Draytonian III]

Lypsyl is also a favourite, I’ve seen most of done in my time including peppermint sweets

[Colemans Left Hook]

put the test match on at 11 this morning  some woman came on and you have to guess what has happened for a couple of seconds in her so called "commentary"  -- someone needs to tell her you raise your voice and tell the audience  immediately someone is out. or if the ball goes for 4 tell us immediately not let us guess for a second FFS

thank goodnes she has got a red card and we now have a proper commentary

[Draytonian III]

Didn’t somebody message in yesterday and he was was playing at Cockermouth and got 6 for 9 and Mike Atherton read it out .
I didn’t hear it but the lads at nets were on about it this morning

[selby]

  A friend from Chesterfield texted to say that Askern Welfare had got a mention on the TV commentary.

[Draytonian III]

I don’t about other leagues but the two different leagues my club plays in ,Saturday’s and Sunday’s are making them competitive but splitting the divisions locally then having a final of respective winners, but with no promotion or relegation

[RobTheRover]

My local league starts on the 18th but games can be played this weekend, there’s no polishing of the ball with salvia or sweat allowed, but spraying furniture polish on your trousers is 😉

reminds me of the real reason F.S. Trueman  put all that brylcream on his hair and then put his fingers through his hair before he bowled

sithe  😉

I just had a flashback to "Indoor League"