Although Alex Carey is hopeful about this year’s T20 World Cup amid the Coronavirus threat, playing cricket without the crowd will be really strange to him. But he wants the tournament to be held in the scheduled time even it has to be organized in empty stadiums.
Australia’s ODI and T20I wicketkeeper and vice-captain said, “You want your fans there, they play a very big part in our sport and without the fans we wouldn’t have a job.” He further added, “That would probably be the ideal situation if you can put a date on it, but it’s probably hard right now to say if we postpone the World Cup then three months later it would be fine to open the gates. I trust the guys well above my head to make the right decisions.”
The famous face who was supposed to represent Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2020 also explained, “As a cricket player and a lover of the game, I’d do anything I could to represent my country at a World Cup. I’d say it would be a strange feeling [without a crowd], no doubt. Playing over in England in the one-day World Cup, having the crowds of all different countries going crazy when they do well is something you can’t really explain.”
Australia’s T20 form over the last six months makes Carey hopeful about his side’s chances in the upcoming world event. “We know our opening batters are likely to be (Aaron) Finch and (David) Warner, throw in (Steven) Smith at the top, so we’ve been pretty consistent with our line-up in the last six months and it’s really valuable doing that. You know what your bowlers’ strengths are, you know what the spinners can do – (Adam) Zampa and (Ashton) Agar were fantastic – and the top of the order was making runs.”
The optimistic Aussie star believes if the Cup can go ahead within next six months, Australian team has a good chance. “Again, I’m very optimistic, if in six months’ time the World Cup goes ahead we are playing some really good cricket we like our conditions here in Australia. I know the guys are still keeping fit and staying strong so if we do get an opportunity to play I think our game will be ready to go.”