Even in its rain-soaked bubble, cricket’s return is reason to celebrate

England vs West Indies began in difficult and unfamiliar circumstances, but the warmth of the sport’s joys and bug bears washed away concerns over the weather, writes Vithushan Ehantharajah

England are playing West Indies in Southampton (Reuters)

The players warmed up earnestly for an hour only to go back inside and stay put for two more. The covers were on more than they were off as the rain teased throughout the morning. The rest of us watched on in anguish, wondering when that first ball would be bowled.

These were familiar feelings of discontent for cricket fans the world over. But those emotions, so often the bane of sport, were as welcome as that overdue hug of a loved one. Coronavirus has seen life as we know it put on hold and this was another step to clawing a little bit of it back.

Of course, it was all very different. The first Test match is often the most sought after, regardless of the opposition, and what was supposed to be a packed house at the Kia Oval became 300 people at the Ageas Bowl – all Covid-19 tested, temperature checked and carrying biological passports.

The scale of the operation to get to this point has been vast and costly. As such, the signs urging us to not throw it into jeopardy were clear to see.

From specific directions for those inside the bubble and the “day visitors”, such as journalists, who are coming in and out, driving through a series of tents to confirm identities and then health, to the hand sanitisers are early turn, and the constant wiping and re-wiping of door handles and work surfaces.

Dom Sibley is clean bowled by Shannon Gabriel (Reuters)

For the broadcasters, many of them arriving yesterday to be absorbed into the inner bubble. The BBC broadcast, for instance, was spread out across a table per person. There was no green room to congregate when off-air: instead, those on a break had to return to their rooms in the adjoining hotel.

Out in the middle, the precautions were most evident when things came to a standstill. Stand-in captain Ben Stokes, the 81st for the England Test side, addressed his charges in a huddle of a circumference 10 times what it is usually. A moment to bind arms together and become one was now a ring with appropriate gaps. West Indies did similar led by their talismanic skipper Jason Holder. But for there courage to participate in this effort, there would be nothing here or anywhere else.

There will be further examples when play gets underway. No saliva will be used on the ball, successes will be greeted with elbow and fist pumps rather than high-fives and bum-pats. The ring-rust, too, will hint at the unusualness of this all. It will be the first cricket match played this summer.

An early lunch was taken at 12.30pm, and of course the rains relented when it was. Nevertheless, the usual bug bears are reminders that a sport with frustration at its core has not lost its sense of occasion or cheek.