No fans, no saliva, hand sanitisers on boundary: Welcome to a new-look T10 cricket

fans allowed, saliva on ball and hand sanitisers on boundary ropes.  Welcome to cricket during coronavirus as it's being played out in Caribbean this week. Six teams are taking part in Vincy T10 Premier League at picturesque Ars Vale venue near Kingstown, main city on St Vincent.  Although very low key in global affairs of international cricket, it's first tournament to be std in a Test-playing region since vent of coronavirus pandemic. 

fans, saliva, hand sanitisers on boundary

At first it was hoped that spectators would be allowed to attend as risk of infection was considered to be extremely low in a country with just 18 recorded cases.

" St Vincent and Grenines Cricket Association (SVGCA) would have preferred an option of a limited number of spectators, maybe 300 or 500 max in stium," mitted SVGCA president Kishore Shallow. 

"However, experts expressed some initial concerns and vised that we attempt to regularise manment of players before we consider having spectators."

Local fans h hoped to see home star Sunil Ambris, one of six so-called "marquee players" in tournament which runs until May 31.  Yes, I could understand frustration, but similarly, I appreciate preference of ( health authority) that y do t want to encour social garings," ded Shallow.  "At end of day, our safety and wellbeing are of paramount importance."

Ambris must be thinking he is cursed in his career. When he me his Test debut for West Indies in a series in New Zealand in 2017, he became first player in long history of game to be dismissed 'hit wicket' in two consecutive innings.  On Friday, playing for Salt Pond Breakers, at least 27-year-old h satisfaction of claiming two wickets in a three-wicket win against Grenines Divers. performance of day, however, was by Desron Maloney whose 19-ball 41 helped La Soufriere Hikers to a nine-wicket win over Botanical Garden Rangers. 

tournament is also first to take place with bowlers banned from applying saliva to ball, a long-standing tool in helping achieve swing. game's rulers are outlawing practice as part of battle against spre of coronavirus.  Or safety measures see hand sanitisers situated on boundary as well as temperature checks.  Umpires are wearing face masks. cricinfo website reported that fall of wickets was greeted by shaking of legs and punching of ground rar than a series of high fives. 

Im credits: AP