Our coverage of the cricket will be very different this year, but no less special

The ground broadcasters have been forced to think outside the box to give those watching from home that same first morning thrill, writes Ben Burrows

England captain Joe Root won't be one of those lining up this week as he awaits the birth of his second child (AFP)

This week sees one of the great days of the sporting calendar finally come to pass.

Five weeks on from when it was supposed to be, the first ball of the Test summer will be bowled in Southampton and full-speed, competitive international cricket will finally return to England after what seems like forever.

It, of course, wouldn’t have been bowled on the south coast at all but then coronavirus intervened and took away one of the days sports fans cherish the most.

England captain Joe Root – who won’t be one of those lining up against the West Indies this week as he awaits the birth of his second child – describes this most special of cricketing days as being like Christmas.

“It signifies what I think is a great couple of months of the year,” he says. “International cricket at home, full house all the time, and brilliant atmospheres around the country.”

This first day is of course not when it was supposed to be and will not be played out as we all imagined either. Coronavirus has changed virtually everything about what we will see over the next few days.

A 30-strong training group has been living, training and sleeping at the Ageas Bowl for a fortnight. Everyone involved, players and staff, have been taking Covid-19 tests twice a week since then while all other day staff involved – the likes of groundsmen and those working at the hotel – have also been subject to regular testing. Last week the ECB announced a clean bill of 702 negative tests.

With no fans inside, the ground broadcasters have been forced to think outside the box to give those watching from home that same first morning thrill. There will be music between overs and even the famous Lord’s hum while you’re sat on your sofa. Jerusalem, albeit an infinitely quieter version, will be heard no doubt, although the beer-fuelled Barmy Army will be missed when the afternoon session hits.

The routine on the pitch will be all change too with the banning of saliva on the ball the biggest change. Expect James Anderson to still find a way to bend the new cherry around corners as only he can though.

The coverage from a journalist’s point of view will be very different too. Gone is the packed press room and its hubbub of catching up and conversation. Only a select few will be allowed through the doors on Wednesday morning, all of whom must have passed a coronavirus test to do so. Gone too will be the post-match press conferences with player and coach. Zoom has got us this far and will have to again when the players return to the field.

Whether it’s players or coaches, fans or journalists, it will be a very different experience for all. It won’t feel like the cricket we know and love but for those who have missed it, it will be just as special.

Yours,

Ben Burrows

Sports editor