Mark Wood
Mark Wood Photo Credit: Getty Images.

English speedster Mark Wood has weighed in on one of the most talked-about topics at this moment. Even as the whole world is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, serious discussions have existed about holding cricket matches. Mainly, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has strongly hinted the possibility of hosting the West Indies for a three-Test series. But Wood has a different take on things.

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Until the previous month, the apex body of cricket in England extended the suspension of the sport till July 1st. However, a recent announcement said that the men’s team would return to individual skill-based training from next week in different venues. The West Indies cricket board are also closely following up with ECB so that all the safety measures can be in place to conduct the series.

England
England. (Credits: Twitter)

However, according to Mark Wood, the safety of everybody must be the concern above anything else. Wood questioned the well-being of the various stakeholders, including the athletes, management, caterers, cameraman if the sport resumes until the situation gets stable. It is in everyone’s interest in professional cricket to get underway; however, it shouldn’t be at the cost of security of people, most of all the health workers.

“The nation wants to see sport and we want to play sport, but first and foremost it is safety first. Are the players going to be safe, the overseas players, the management, caterers, cameramen, is everybody going to be alright?… Cricket sort of has to be on the back burner while every thing else gets better.

As much as we would love to play sport and want sport back, I think it has to be about the nation and getting things back together and making sure people’s safety and key workers and the NHS (National Health Service) are looked after.” the right-arm pacer said as quoted by India Today.

They can make you feel like there is an extra guy in our side: Mark Wood

Mark Wood
Mark Wood. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

The Durham fast bowler went on to say that the players would indeed miss the crowd, who wouldn’t attend the games for long to ensure social distancing. As a fast bowler, the Englishman feels that when fielding on the boundary, the public can energise and motivate them through their slogans. The 30-year old Wood remarked that it feels like the crowds are an extra player on our side; hence in their absence would have to create their own atmosphere.

“Being a fast bowler, I would go to fine leg on the boundary edge and you are right next to the crowd there and they can give you a bit of motivation or inspiration. They can make you feel like there is an extra guy in our side. That really does help and not to have that would be pretty weird. We’re just going to have to create our own atmosphere out in the middle.” Wood added further.

The United Kingdom has more than 2,40,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including their Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, who also caught it before recovering successfully. As far as fatalities are concerned, their tally is 34500, the most in Europe.

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