Love finds way to play Poms in pandemic

Steve Smith and teammates flew from home ports to the UK for the first cricket tour of the Covid era.

Men on a mission: Fast bowler Pat Cummins, above, says goodbye to his wife, Becky, at Sydney Airport. Picture: Adam Yip

Steve Smith and Australian cricket teammates encountered the unusual on their way to an unknown future on Sunday.

There’ll be no crowds. No spit polish for balls. No boos. No mingling and no sight seeing when they arrive in England.

Arriving at local ports wearing duck bill face masks and rubber gloves they greeted each other from a safe distance then boarded chartered flights to Perth where they were united as a squad for the first time since early March.

Pat Cummins and wife Becky kissed goodbye with masks in place, most other players arrived alone. Mitchell Starc’s wife Alyssa Healy did the right thing and helped carry the bowler’s bags and rehab equipment to the over sized baggage counter.

The Australian cricket team arriving at Sydney International Airport on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

The Australian men, understood to be the first national side to venture forth since the pandemic closed state and international boundaries, boarded another chartered plane in Perth bound for the UK where they will play six white ball games against England.

Sydney airport was a ghost town on Sunday. A handful of travellers made their way to a thimbleful of flights. The only excitement provided when some goose with tattoos on his neck and a camera was led off by the slow footed Australian Federal Police after an argument about his right to not wear a mask and take photographs wherever he liked.

“It’s very odd, this place is usually packed,” Smith said. “To see no one here — the world is obviously a very different place at the moment and it’s fortunate for us that we are able to travel over and do what we love.

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc make last minute packing adjustments at Qantas Departure Terminal before their flight. Picture: Adam Yip

“Hopefully we’ll put some smiles on people’s faces here watching us go about our business.”

Smith had an extraordinary Ashes in England last year, averaging 110 with the bat despite having missed over a year because of his ban. The batsman made a pair of centuries in the first Test, was knocked out on 92 in the second and made a double century when allowed back for the fourth match. Only once dismissed for a score below 80, he was booed remorselessly in every match but the last.

“I do like batting there, unfortunately there’s no crowd to egg me on and give me a bit more motivation, but there’s going to be plenty of eyes on the TV and it is just going to be great to be back out playing,” he said.

“It will be like playing in a grade game or a Shield game. We’ll just have to adapt and hopefully just enjoy each other’s company out there.”

Members of the Australian cricket team on their way to the UK on Sunday as they become the first national sporting side to leave Australia since the COVID-19 outbreak. Picture: Adam Zampa

Life for the touring cricketers will be limited. They are confined to team hotels which are attached to the grounds in Derby, Southampton and Manchester. The middle venue has a golf course which is included in the biosecure bubble established by the England and Wales Cricket Board for this tour.

There were plenty of golf clubs and computer games among the cricket kits being passed through airport check-in and a few were packing their own coffee making equipment in a bid to replicate the UK cafe experiences they will be denied.

Spinner Adam Zampa, a coffee aficionado, called his room the “Love Cafe” on previous tours. This time others have followed his example by packing kettles, scales, grinders and Australian roasted beans.

“Obviously it’s going to be a bit different to what we are used to,” Smith said. “Being in a bubble and playing with no crowds etc presents a challenge in itself but one we are looking forward to.”

Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Aaron Finch and others will fly straight to the UAE for the IPL after the England series and the star batsman says he has no idea yet if they or the squad members who return straight home will be granted an allowance to train in quarantine on return.