Reportedly spectators certainly add to any high octane contest but the entertainment value of any sport can only be determined by its quality as the english Premier League has shown since its resumption amid the COVID-19 pandemic, feels fast bowling great Michael Holding. international cricket will be resuming with the much-awaited Test series between england and the west indies at the Old Trafford from July 8 in a ''bio-secure'' spectator less environment.
Will cricket in the COVID-19 times be devoid of fun and entertainment with fans being kept away?
Perhaps "Entertainment in any sport is determined by the standard of play in that sport and not by what is happening in the stands," Holding, one of the most respected voices in world cricket, told in an exclusive interaction. Holding, who spends most of his time in the UK, gave an example of how the quality of EPL's games didn't take a hit despite matches being played in front of empty stands. Holding said "Crowds are very important to add the atmosphere but like football that has restarted in the UK, the entertainment has been the standard of football played".
Meanwhile the whole world is debating on the ban on saliva to shine the ball, one of the greatest of all time believes that it won't be that big a problem. "As I have said before, I don't see the ban on using saliva being a problem. Perspiration does the same thing unless the polisher has something other than just saliva in his mouth," Holding said, possibly referring to the sugary candies or mint that fielders use to make the saliva heavy.” Despite being among the top three commentators in world cricket, Holding has never been a part of the IPL bandwagon all these years. The reason being his reservations with the shortest format of the game.
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