West Indies vs Ireland – 1st ODI – Andy Balbirnie

Eire captain opens up on coping with the uncertainty of enjoying or not, and isolation in resort rooms

“The morale is fairly good, it is higher than Florida,” Balbirnie informed reporters throughout a digital press convention a day earlier than the primary ODI. “It was very tough, a few of us needed to go away our relations in Florida and are available right here for this collection. I used to be one among them.

“However as quickly as we acquired into coaching and worldwide collection mode, your focus comes again. You may’t dwell an excessive amount of on what’s occurred. If you happen to do that you’ll some fairly darkish locations. We’re fortunate we get these alternatives to bounce again regularly.

“Enjoying with Covid is more difficult off the pitch than on the pitch since you’re worrying about checks, then informed to remain within the room until the checks come again and also you’re informed it is going to be delayed and also you’re actually sitting on the sting of your seat in your room questioning when you’ve got it. On the identical time we have got a job to do as soon as we cross the white line, it doesn’t matter what’s occurring.”

Though plenty of gamers around the globe are actually vaccinated and squads dwell in bio-bubbles to play worldwide cricket, Balbirnie stated the stress of going by means of checks many times was draining and impacts gamers’ psychological well being.

“It is massively difficult. It has a large impact in your psychological well being. Like getting a PCR take a look at and sitting in your room for twenty-four hours, not realizing if you are going to miss the entire collection and to spend 14 days in a room with no balcony, it isn’t wholesome. I do not actually suppose you possibly can proceed [like that], there should be methods to take care of the gamers’ welfare or they’re going to resolve to not go on tour and that’ll be utterly comprehensible. You need to take care of them at first as a person earlier than a cricketer.”

“Getting a PCR take a look at and sitting in your room for twenty-four hours, not realizing if you are going to miss the entire collection and to spend 14 days in a room with no balcony, it isn’t wholesome.”

Andy Balbirnie

“It’s totally unusual [to be without Stirling],” Balbirnie stated. “I feel I performed a collection towards Scotland again in 2014 which was the final time I lined up in an ODI with out him. It is massively disappointing to lose him for the primary sport however on the identical time it means somebody has to step up now. We have to produce match-winners. Hopefully one of many younger guys can have the expertise of successful a sport for Eire, that is why you play the sport.”