Jason Roy relaxed but fears grow over what future of domestic cricket will look like after coronavirus

For all the reassurances from the ECB and Professional Cricketers’ Association, there remains an inherent fear among cricketers in England and Wales that extends far beyond this summer

“I’m just a pawn in the sporting world.”

There’s a smile when Jason Roy says this. He has got better at these media spots from his younger days when all of it was regarded as a nuisance. That’s not to say he might not regard them as such now, but he understands they go a lot smoother (and quicker) when he does not take them so seriously.

That response was to a question posed to him off the back of Ivan Rakitic’s comments in an interview with Marca. The Barcelona midfielder believes footballers have a duty to return to action as soon as possible, taking on the same risk as other key workers during this pandemic, to “try to make people enjoy football again”. When asked if he would be willing to risk getting coronavirus to do so, “without a doubt” was Rakitic's reply.

“That’s a massive shout,” answers Roy when asked what he thought of the sentiment and, indeed, if he shared them. “I won’t be going to my bosses and saying, ‘Put me in the front line.’ I’ll just get told what to do.”

Roy in many ways can afford to be comfortable with his stance. The England & Wales Cricket Board have approached this with admirable leadership. The welfare of all, not just the players but the operational staff across the country, has been at the forefront of any discussions around potential restarts and behind-close-door scenarios constantly being reworked with advice from above.

“I’ve got a huge amount of trust in the ECB. I think they will look into every single avenue of all the positives, all the negatives,” says Roy. “So I guess I would trust in what they say. Sport no doubt has a huge impact on everyone in the country. Everyone is missing sport. But, at the end of the day, safety comes first.”

Yet for all the reassurances from the governing body and the Professional Cricketers’ Association, there remains an inherent fear among professional cricketers in England and Wales that extends far beyond this summer. Far beyond coronavirus.

Much of it, of course, stems from this current state of uncertainty. And a lot of that is exacerbated by what they are reading every day.

Usually, by the start of May, the opening rounds of the County Championship will have allowed Division One and Two to take some semblance of shape. Early individual performances would have been jumped on, for England players in possession of Test spots but not quite penned in and those challenging to take those spots off them. WhatsApp threads, in full flow right now, are chatting about who the media darlings are as prospective XIs for the first Test of the summer are banded about. Though just as many are bemoaning the introduction of what they regard as clumsy media conjecture into the sanctity of the team group.

Yet in the last week, a degree of panic has set in. For players whose worth is carried mostly in the first-class system, the further delay of the season until 1 July means a loss of nine rounds of the Championship. Many are resigned to the fact that no four-day cricket at all will be played this summer. Certainly not enough for those with contracts expiring at the end of September to prove their worth to their current counties or other suitors.

But it was news surrounding The Hundred that has fanned the flames of uncertainty. Thursday’s announcement of the new competition’s postponement to 2021 has meant concerns for both white and red ball cricketers.

Those lucky enough to get picked up in 2019’s draft are hoping contracts are rolled over to next year, while also wondering if they are in line for compensation for The Hundred not taking place this year. The 14 “Kolpaks” due to take part are particularly wary about whether their contracts will be honoured even though they will not be classified as “local” players next year, which is how they were able to seal lucrative spots in the draft.

Jason Roy in action for England (Getty)

In many ways, they have been comforted by Tom Harrison who stated The Hundred is now more important than ever to English cricket because of this pandemic. But for the rest, the chief executive’s words have led to a sense that a greater proportion of resources may be allocated to The Hundred next season to chase the losses of 2020.

There was further trepidation at the start of the week over the publication of research by Oakwell Sports Advisory, a sports financial advisory firm, which stated the ECB should look into private investment for The Hundred, including from Indian Premier League owners.

The ECB made a note of stating the 13-page dossier, entitled “The Impact of Covid-19 on English Cricket”, was not commissioned by them. Harrison ceded many of the suggestions, such as private ownership in The Hundred, were discussed at length while putting together the competition. In fact one of Oakwell's consultants, Mike Fordham, was head of The Hundred before he left the ECB in March 2019.

The extracts of the study published have led to fears that private investment would create an even greater disparity between those in The Hundred and the rest who will be isolated from that injection of cash. It is worth noting the deal struck by the players via the PCA for a new County Partnership Agreement from 2020 to 2024 that ensured rises in the minimum amount a county can spend on player salaries, a raising of the salary cap and an established minimum wage for full-time professionals and further benefits was set against the £1.1billion broadcast deal which came with the proviso of the new competition. A cut of any new money into The Hundred would not necessarily be forthcoming.

Invariably it will be down to the PCA to ensure all parties are represented in ongoing talks, which is an unenviable task. Amid this idle time, minds are beginning to envisage a future of rifts between the haves and have nots among male cricketers.

The immediate focus is rightly on health. But while all remain pawns awaiting the next move, some worry if they will even be a part of the game in the future.