User:BahugunaSaket

=  ECB eye on 'Bio-Secure Environment' for international cricket resumption  =

The ECB is planning to resume their International Cricket in  'bio-secure environment' this summer said Steve Elworthy, the man behind the plans. Although the UK government has yet to decide on international cricket and ECB preparations are on advance stage and Westindies has accepted their proposal to play three tests starting in July."'From panning point of view we have got everything right,' said Elworthy.'We are ready for it but we will keep in mind the guidelines given by the government. we are working according to them'."The minimum number of grounds will be used. Elworthy provided details of how behind closed doors cricket would work in practice, including the type of venues required and some of the medical protocols that will be in place for all those required to deliver the games.

As of now, no grounds have been confirmed till now but the three expected to be used are Old Trafford, the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, and Edgbaston. He said that they were looking for venues which included hotels for a minimum movement and enough space for social distancing within the changing rooms and enough car parking space so that people don't have to use public transport.

Elworthy estimates that between 180 and 250 people will be required to deliver the matches within the "bubble" as he calls it. Each person will be tested for Covid-19 prior to entering the bio-secure venue and will have to complete a health questionnaire too. There will also be regular thermal scanning and deep cleaning in place. People will be restricted to different zones within the grounds, with the players and officials being in one zone and other personnel in another.

The protocol for people leaving the bubble, being put together by Dr. Nick Pierce, the ECB's chief medical officer, is also yet to be finalized."'Clearly, the more people you have in and out of the bubble, the weaker the bubble is,'"Elworthy said. "But at the same time, there are going to be circumstances when people will need to leave. I absolutely get that. We will make sure that the protocols around leaving the bubble and coming back into the bubble are in the shortest period of time but in the safest and secure way possible."

While the ICC has yet to decide on any changes to playing regulations to allow a substitute should someone fall ill with Covid-19 during a match, there will be a process for anyone who develops symptoms although the finer details are still being worked on by the ECB's medical team.

Elworthy said the planning includes the principle that "players aren't locked in a venue" for much longer than a month before they can have a break and reconvene at the next venue for the next set of games.

"When the West Indies arrive, they've got to go into a two-week quarantine period, so we would want them to be able to go somewhere where they would be able to train and quarantine at the same time," Elworthy said. "But clearly, we're working very closely with the government on that to make sure that they come in safely."