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XtraTime Web Desk: Former India wicketkeeper batsman Deep Dasgupta has welcomed England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) latest training protocols post COVID-19 pandemic. According to Deep, “The England and Wales Cricket Board have taken a brilliant step to safely resume cricket amid the global crisis.”

Recently England’s team Director Ashley Giles laid down the plans for individual training that the players are set to undergo as cricket in the country looks to get back on its feet. There has been no cricket ever since the news of the spreading of pandemic broke in March.

Following the British government’s guidelines recently on how elite sportsmen and women could return to training, ECB is planning to announce a training squad of 30 players. The ECB has also set out some protocols that have to be followed by the England cricketers and support staffs once the training resumes, starting with the fast bowlers next week from Wednesday.

After a two-week period, once the bowlers have reached their desired loading efforts, batsmen and wicketkeepers will start their programmes, with 11 venues in all set to host training sessions.

ECB has laid down a few protocols for the players and support staffs once they resume training. The players will train individually on a staggered basis with a coach, physio and, where possible, a strength and conditioning coach in attendance. Each individual will observe strict social-distancing, hygiene and temperature testing protocols.

The counties have already been requested to provide a coach to assist one-to-one coaching. Players and support staff to arrive in training kit ready to practice. The physio will have to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to treat injuries. Dressing rooms and other venue facilities will be closed.”
ECB also have plans to schedule matches at ‘bio-secure’ venues with grounds such as Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford are two such grounds which have on-site hotels.

According to Deep, “This is an excellent idea as the players will not have to travel long distance to the team hotel. There are quite a few county grounds which have this facility in the UK.”

Already various cricket boards are in the process of formulating protocols for outdoor training post pandemic. “There are already talks about how cricket will resume post COVID-19 pandemic. Already the BCCI has said they are willing to send a team to Sri Lanka in July. Australia may play a series soon against New Zealand. One country which is almost certain to resume cricket is England. They will be playing two series at home – against West Indies and Pakistan. So you see the process have already been started to resume cricket,” said Deep.

Please click on the link to watch the full video analysis of Deep Dasgupta on ECB’s individual skill based training module post COVID-19.