The pandemic has thrown every sporting event out of the window. It has made every sporting nation not only be remain cautious but to innovate new methods just to ensure the safety of the players and everyone else involved in organising a sporting series. Bio-secure bubble is one such thing. However, the bio-secure bubble seems to affect the players mentally.
What is bio-secure bubble?
Bio-secure bubble is an environment that is completely cut-off from the rest of the world. Everyone who is involved in a series or a tournament like the players, officials and support staff are limited to move around a few places only. The aim behind such a bubble is to minimise if not eradicate the chances of getting impacted by the virus. The players and the officials will not be allowed to contact their families or friends during the duration of the series or the tournament. They will not be allowed to visit anyone outside the bubble. This is like getting lost in a remote island with no way of escaping.
The players are not even allowed to visit any restaurant of their choice. They will have to eat whatever that is prepared in the hotel where they are staying.
Eoin Morgan, the English limited over captain, has raised concerns about the bio-secure bubble.
“We’ve spoken about this [issue] as a team and we’ve accepted that guys will come in and out of the bubble if they feel it is affecting their mental health. I do think we will see people pull out of tours. That is just going to be the reality of things. I don’t think people should look down on it and they shouldn’t feel like people aren’t doing their job or not committing to their country.
Jofra Archer spoke about how tough it is inside the bubble.
At times it can be mentally challenging – it’s going to (feel strange) going home and being normal again as this has become the new normal,” Archer was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“I’m not sure I’ve got much more bubble left in me for the rest of the year. I haven’t seen my family really since February and we’re in September now.
As can be imagined, this is very tough on the players and the officials. Imagine a series that goes on for more than a month. It is just impossible to stay in a confinement even if it is meant for the safety of the players. Humans are not designed to stay in a particular area for a very longtime. They are always on the move.
Having said that, the authorities cannot be faulted either. They are trying their best to organise a series in the middle of a severe crisis. The authorities have ensured that atleast a few will be able to make a living from this series. This must be lauded. However, the mental aspect of the players and the officials are bound to be affected severely. The boards will have to become much more innovative to minimise the mental impact on the players.
Some of the things that they can try is
First, the boards can think of having completely different set of players for Tests & ODIs. T20s must not be held between the countries.
Second, anyone who is part of the Test team must not be part of the ODI team and vice versa. This will ensure that the number of days players need to be in the bubble is limited.
Third, the boards may think of replacing an entire team after a couple of tests. The 3rd and 4th test will have to be held with a sufficient gap in the middle. This will also help the travelling team to fly a different set of players for the 3rd and 4th tests at a later date.
The current situation is extremely tough on everyone. It is imperative on every board to help the other board in whatever way they can. For eg, the England tour of South Africa and Pakistan.
Eoin Morgan has welcomed the tours
“There is a huge amount of responsibility not only to get just your home country’s fixtures under way but to facilitate other countries around the world and do what we can to try to get cricket back on.
Let us all hope that this will not last for a longtime and that the pandemic will soon be over.