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Could play an ODI or T20I a day before or after a Test match - Ashley Giles

by Rob Johnston • Published on Thu, Apr 9, 2020, 10:30 PM

The ECB are working on a number of scenarios for when the season might start with a view to pushing back the international series farther into the summer © Getty

Ashely Giles, director of England men's cricket, remains optimistic that some international cricket will be played this summer and says England's players will be ready to resume action when, or if, they are required.

The ECB have already announced that no cricket will take place until at least May 28 and Giles thinks that date is likely to be extended into June at the earliest. England are supposed to be hosting West Indies in a three Test series at the start of June and then Australia, Pakistan and Ireland in various red and white-ball rubbers after that.

The ECB are working on a number of scenarios for when the season might start with a view to pushing back the international series farther into the summer in order to get as much of the planned cricket in. "That's what we're looking at right now and we're working with the other boards around the world on seeing if that is possible," Giles said.

"We have really good relations with these boards and we're doing whatever we can to look at scenarios where we can push our cricket back which gives us the best chance of playing as much international cricket as possible.

"We all understand that in a period like this we have to be as flexible as we can. Nothing is going to be ideal. Preparation for players, rest between matches, cross over of formats, right now it is a blank sheet of paper because it has to be, we have to adapt.

"The priority is doing what we are told to be doing and a lot of what we hear in the news is naturally negative and is bad news. We have to try and remain positive as well. I am positive we will get some cricket in later in the summer. Exactly what that will look like I don't know, but we have to be when we are planning otherwise it becomes ever decreasing circles and we just get more and more down on the situation.

"Our jobs are perhaps to look at those scenarios positively because I do think when it is time, sport will have a big role to play in bringing the country back to its feet I really do. Our teams have a big role in that."

One option being considered by the ECB is playing white and red ball series at similar times although Giles said the ECB had not specifically looked at whether different formats could be played on the same day at different venues. For example, whether an ODI could be played on the same day that a Test match was also taking place.

"Technically it's feasible," Giles said. "You could put two different groups together. We haven't really looked at that, like that, yet. We have certainly looked at playing two formats around the same time. You could have a Test match running and play a T20 or an ODI the day before or the day after a Test match.

"But it's also working with the broadcasters on what's best and what they want. That's another important partnership for us. They will be suffering at the moment and we are very much all in this together. We will do whatever we have to do.

"Whilst it may not be ideal from a playing point of view, in the long run it might give us a better look at other players and a broader group of people that we might have to play in that way in the future. In that sense it might be an opportunity."

For now, England's players have been told to keep fit. Those players without home gyms have been sent equipment, such as kettlebells, so they can stay active. "My only ask of the players is that there is no real excuse why you can't keep yourself fit during this period," Giles said.

"You could be jumping up and down in your front room, you can still go for a jog, you can use your home equipment. There's a full range of stuff you could be doing so that our players are ready when we get that green light. We might be quite rushed at that point but at least physically they are ready to get on with it."

Normally, players would need between four to eight weeks of cricketing preparation to get up to full speed but there is an acceptance that that is unlikely to be possible. Before any international cricket takes place, Giles thinks England would at least need a "couple" of warm-up matches. Playing intra-squad matches or games against England Lions would be options if the county game had not yet got up and running.

For now, England's players are looking at doing what they can to help out during this unprecedented time. Giles was full of praise for the voluntary donations made by both England's men's and women's centrally contracted players, announced last Friday (April 3). The men donated 500,000 GBP to the ECB and good causes while the women's players agreed to salary reductions in line with those taken by the team's support staff.

"I'm very proud of our players, full stop," Giles said. "I think they are fantastic role models. I think what they've done in terms of contribution was strong. It's important from a number of different aspects really.

"Firstly from a purely financial aspect there are real concerns around the finances of the game, what they may look like if this continues. But more than that, the unity across the game and certainly across the ECB. Across the business people have taken pay cuts, we have people on furlough and it shows the players are connected to that.

"But you wouldn't be surprised because there are some very good people in there. I think they are very well connected with what's going on in the wider society and this shows that. I think they are very aware as well that this is a first measure. We all might need to do more."

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try and remain positive as well. I am positive we will get some cricket in later in the summer. E 544hfgjf

Could play an ODI or T20I a day before or after a Test match - Ashley Giles

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