Australia's cricketers stick with handshakes despite Coronavirus threat

Australia's cricketers will continue to shake hands, coach Justin Langer said on Monday, despite England enforcing a strict fist-bump only policy to prevent spread of coronavirus. COVID-19 has claimed lives of three Australians, with global outbreak forcing a host of sporting fixtures around world to be cancelled or played behind closed doors.

Australia's three-game one-day series against New Zealand begins Friday and Langer said re were plans to change how team interacts in dressing room or on field. ", we'll keep shaking hands... re's plenty of hand sanitiser in Australian kits," he told cricket.com.au Monday following team's 3-0 series loss in South Africa.

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"I'm sure we'll just keep shaking hands and move on from that," he added. England captain Joe Root last week said his players would be talking sensible precautions on ir tour of Sri Lanka. "We are t shaking hands with each or, using instead well-established fist bump, and we are washing hands regularly and wiping down surfaces using anti-bacterial wipes and gels we've been given in our immunity packs," he said.

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Langer admitted that some players were exhausted heading into series against New Zealand having featured in all three formats almost continuously since last year's World Cup, including likes of leading batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner. " truth is we've got some weary boys at moment, particularly our senior players," he said. "y play so much cricket and you think about what y've done... since we started World Cup (in England last year).

"y're mentally tough guys but it's a real challenge for us." first one-dayer begins in Sydney on Friday with second two days later, before series wraps up in Hobart on March 20. 

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Im Credits: AP