How would cricket and other games be played post CoVID?

One significant victim of the new normal will be Playing cricket . It has been normal in a game be it in twenty-twenty or the 50 over ODIs where action is filled with spitting, kissing  hugging ,high fives and even piling upon a batsman or bowler when the game is won and over .

The new guidelines for playing cricket indoor or outdoor would prohibit spitting on the ball while bowling . The spitting on the ball  or on the hands and applying on the ball has been a  traditional age old practise in cricket . And now banning the spitting on  the ball will affect the spinners and fast bowlers so also players who used to do the polishing and handing over to the bowlers. 

Social distancing is another area of concern as in a game of cricket it’s very very normal to hug profusely and kiss and stand close to each other while fielding or hug after a batsman has scored a big score or hit the winning runs or bowled out a batsman or the team. 

If a distancing norm is strictly implemented the Batsman standing close to the stumps and the wicketkeeper standing up to the stumps will be violating the 6 feet distance and wearing a face mask  would smudge the sound of the appeals behind and in front of the stumps.

What happens to the close in fielders standing so close to each other and the traditional huddle will be questioned soon .

Hugging ,kissing ,high fives and spitting all around on a hot humid day of cricket will raise quite a few questions.

Wonder what would be the penalty for violating the norms ? Will it be a no ball if you spit ? Will it mean a free hit for the batting team 

Cricket is one game like hockey, kabbadi and football be most impacted by the distancing norms.

What about wrestling would it be out for few years of the CoVID? 

Will judo like  marshal arts be impacted with no touch norms ?

Running will be easy without touching each other.

Seating in cricket stadiums will take a hit when it’s opened for public viewing rather than allow closed games be telecast for sponsors.

Hope the fears about CoVID is soon gone and normal but new normal life allows enjoying cricket. Sponsors are definitely not happy with the way plans  are afoot for the T20 games in Australia or the IPL planned to be shifted to UAE or SA 

Let’s wait for unlock 3 or 4 with Mumbai not in a happy situation and freedom of normal life also is not visible soon .

Games and normal life it self is going to be impacted very badly and all have to adjust or fall in line to be safe and live happily .

Muralidharan R Nair 

Bangalore India .