NOW IT'S OUR TIME TO HELP OTHERS

Chris Stocks catches up with England’s director of cricket and discusses the need for the ECB to help boards around the world

As England’s director of cricket, Ashley Giles knows in this year of all years his job is more than just addressing on-field issues. That’s why he is working hard to ensure the winter tours of South Africa, Sri Lanka and India go ahead.

England were hugely grateful for the willingness of the West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan and Australia to travel to the UK this summer. It meant all 18 men’s international matches were played – saving the England & Wales Cricket Board from losing an estimated £280million in broadcast revenue.

Now, with the winter yet to be finalised, Giles and others at the ECB are determined to help out other boards around the world by fulfilling their touring commitments over the next few months – starting with a white-ball trip to South Africa in November.

Just like this summer, all these matches will have to take place in bio-secure environments, with the task of pulling off tours amid a global pandemic extremely challenging.

Giles, though, remains positive. “We are in constant dialogue with teams around the world,” he says. “We are due to tour South Africa, and due to tour Sri Lanka and India after Christmas and we are confident all this cricket will happen.

“But we have to remain flexible and agile as we have done throughout this whole process and at times leave the final decisions to very last minute.