Another bubble set to test players during the Ashes
Australian captain Meg Lanning took a big break after the WBBL and knows how important it was as Covid forces players into a bubble for the Ashes.
Cricket
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Australian captain Meg Lanning has conceded there’s some extra “nervousness” heading back into a bubble for the Ashes knowing Covid is easier to catch and could mean missing a match or the upcoming World Cup.
Different groups of Australian players will travel to Adelaide at different times over coming days and then be placed under Covid restrictions before the multi-format series gets under way on January 20.
The playing ranks have already endured Covid setbacks, with a glut of WNCL one-day games postponed after the virus swept through some of the state teams.
Hours after her call-up to the Australia A squad, WBBL batting dynamo Katie Mack also tested positive and was forced into Covid isolation and won’t join the squad until late.
Lanning, who took an extended break after the end of the WBBL season late last year, said there was some trepidation with so much on the line.
“I think so. Heading into this bubble the risk catching Covid is significantly increased than what it was even six months ago,” she said on Wednesday.
“There is that little bit of nervousness but having chatted to the medical staff, they have minimised the risk. I’m very confident heading into the series everything is in place to keep everyone safe.
“We understand that touring and travelling now looks different, so in order to get the Ashes series up and running we do need to follow some protocols and keep everyone as safe as possible. We’re willing to do that.”
Between the Australian and Australia A squads there will be 30 players in both Adelaide and then Canberra for the bulk of the series, and selectors have put them all on notice to be ready to play.
Several Big Bash players have lamented the return to restrictions as having taken the fun out of playing in the tournament.
Lanning said the lengthy break she took had “done wonders” for her, knowing she was about to lose a lot of freedoms for a significant amount of time with the one-day World Cup in New Zealand to follow the Ashes.
“I felt after the WBBL season the break would benefit me a lot and having come back to training now I think it has done wonders,” she said.
“I thought the timing was perfect for me mentally more than anything to switch off a little bit. It was something I spoke a lot about with the support staff.
“Everyone will have had at least a couple of weeks off. I’ve had a little bit longer.”
Lanning said rather than be inspired by the men’s team’s Ashes win, their performances reinforced how important the series was to all players.
“We understand the rivalry that’s there and how big a series it is,” she said.
“It’s been great to watch the men do so well and really show that competitiveness and put the fire in the belly, so we are looking forward to it.”
Originally published as Another bubble set to test players during the Ashes
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