After becoming one of the first cricketers to return to individual training after the coronavirus hiatus, England pacer Stuart Broad on Friday gave a glimpse of practise into the post-lockdown world.
Broad shared a video on his official Twitter account with the caption, “Building up, another 6 overs today at 70ish %. Sorry for James Pipes squeak, he’s stood behind a big net. Head band been added to stop sweat dripping down my face so hopefully I get out the habit of touching my face while bowling. Cricket bat and ball.”
Building up, another 6 overs today at 70ish %. Sorry for James Pipes squeak, he’s stood behind a big net. Head band been added to stop sweat dripping down my face so hopefully I get out the habit of touching my face while bowling. pic.twitter.com/lSO8CXrm0N
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) May 22, 2020
Earlier this week, the International Cricket Council said using sweat to shine a cricket ball was fine, but not saliva. Cricketers will have to maintain social distancing, not touch their mouth or face to avoid spread or contamination of coronavirus.
Broad, one of the country’s top wicket-takers, is among the 18 pacers selected by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for individual sessions at seven different grounds.
Broad, who has played 138 Tests, detailed his training day via his Instagram account, posting a picture of himself taking his temperature with a digital thermometer at home before uploading the result via an app.
When he arrived at Trent Bridge, Broad was given a designated car-parking space and directed straight onto the pitch-as part of the safety protocols, players are not allowed to change in the dressing room and must arrive in their training kit.
Given the threat, the ECB has provided the pacers with their own set of balls, and Broad rolled his arm over on a single pitch with no batsman or wicketkeeper. There was a physiotherapist, though, to help him with his training under the new set of guidelines.
All cricketing activities in England have been suspended since mid-March due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus. The pandemic has led to either cancellation or postponement of all sporting events, and cricket was no different.
