Accordingly the coronavirus may have struck shortly before the english cricket season was due to start but it threatens to have major implications for the game worldwide. Meanwhile english officials still believe they can fit a full international programme of three-Test series against both the west indies and pakistan, as well as one-day internationals with australia and ireland, into a season that won't start until July 1 at the earliest.
But there is now an expectation matches will have to be played behind closed doors, in the short-term at least, as a way of stopping the spread of Covid-19. That would, however, still allow the england and wales cricket Board to honour lucrative broadcast contracts and avoid the nightmare scenario of a completely wiped out season that could cost the organisation £380 million ($463 million). Perhaps west indies and pakistan, two of crickets less well-off major teams, have both made encouraging noises about touring england, subject to health concerns and appear to ready to factor a 14-day quarantine on arrival in britain, because of UK government regulations, into their planning.
Matches are set to be played at 'bio-secure' venues such as Hampshire's Ageas Bowl or Old Trafford that have onsite hotels. australia were meant to play three Twenty20s and three one-day internationals in July but may delay their visit to later in the season after seeing how the west indies and pakistan series pan out. An ICC board meeting on thursday May 28, could see the men's Twenty20 world cup, due to held in australia from october 18, postponed. Problems over flying in 16 teams to australia may be reason enough to delay the event by a year.
