Bangladesh cricket tour off, IPL next in line to fall to coronavirus

Australia’s cricketers appear destined to remain isolated and idle until at least August.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins unsuccessfully appeals for a leg before wicket decision during Australia’s last tour of Bangladesh in 2017. Picture: AFP

Australia’s cricketers appear destined to remain isolated and idle until at least August when they are notionally scheduled to host Zimbabwe for three ODIs.

With the June tour of Bangladesh cancelled, and the July ODI series in England more possible than probable, Australia turns to the Top End for its next cricket fix.

Our cricketers will emerge blinking in the Darwin and Cairns dry-season sunshine assuming the Zimbabwe series proceeds, which it most likely will not.

Australia have somehow avoided playing Zimbabwe for six years — Phillip Hughes opened the batting in the nations’ most recent ODI — so ending their enforced hiatus against the minnows seems as unlikely as it is incongruous.

The Zimbabwe series was shunted up the queue when June’s tour of Bangladesh was cancelled on Thursday night.

The IPL will surely be the next domino to fall. Even if it does start as scheduled on Wednesday, it will do so without its 14 contracted Australian players.

India’s ban on foreign travel only ends on Tuesday so Steve Smith, David Warner, Aaron Finch and company can hardly be expected to fly in on the morning of the first game.

Then there’s the little matter of the Australian ban on overseas travel.

Pat Cummins is keen to play but that appears a forlorn hope. Asked on Friday if closed stadiums should be considered by the IPL, Cummins said: “Of course — whatever it takes to try and get cricket up and play those big events safely.

“The first priority is safety but the second one is getting back to normality, finding that balance,” Cummins told the BBC’s Stumped podcast.

“If that unfortunately means no crowds for a while, then that is that, but hopefully people can watch at home on TV.

“It would have a totally different feel about it. When people ask about the difference between playing cricket in India the first thing is the crowd.

“They scream every single ball whether it’s a six or a wicket … so that atmosphere is something that we love about playing in India.

“It will be missed in the short term if it can’t happen, but I have no doubt it will be a great event even if it has to be played without crowds.”

Former IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla says there’s little chance of the IPL proceeding as scheduled on Wednesday.

“I don’t see any preparation,” he told the ANI news agency.

“Our priority is to fight coronavirus and save people. It will all depend on the government, what decision they take.

“We are hearing that the lockdown may extend. In this situation, if you think IPL can happen by April 15, it seems not possible.”

At least one Indian state extended its lockdown until April 30 as the nation’s coronavirus death toll climbed above 160.

Cricket Australia has said it would try to reschedule the Bangladesh Test series and the balance of last month’s New Zealand ODI series.

But given the crowded calendar, “postponed” is really just another word for cancelled.

England cricket director Ashley Giles said the West Indies tour of England in June was looking “less and less likely”, which was bad news for the ODIs against Australia scheduled for July.

“We are looking at how far back into the summer we can push cricket,” Giles said.

Australia will now shiver through its first Test-free winter since the 2007 World Cup year.

Everything is in the air and nothing is certain. October’s T20 World Cup looks shaky and there are even concerns about the home Test summer.