David Gower hails West Indies’ spirit of cooperation

David Gower has urged the rest of world cricket to follow the West Indies in demonstrating a “spirit of co-operation” as the global game looks to get back on its feet amid the coronavirus.

The West Indies are due to arrive in England next week,
ahead of a three-match Test series rescheduled for July even though the
pandemic has claimed at least 48,000 lives in Britain, according to official
figures.

International matches are central to the financing of the
game at all levels, with the England and Wales Cricket Board estimating it
could lose £252 million ($316 million) if there are no fixtures at all this
summer as a result of COVID-19.

“The West Indies have done us a favour,” former
England captain Gower told Britain’s Press Association. “It is a unique
situation and one with huge pressures. It will be a huge relief for these games
to happen because getting going again is the key.”

Gower, the newly-installed president of the Lord’s
Taverners, a cricket-related charity that supports disabled and disadvantaged
young people, added: “Let’s face it, last year was extraordinary with the
World Cup win (by England) and an exciting Ashes but the problem for any sport
is that the public consciousness only lasts a short while.

“With the exception of football, probably, if you
haven’t got live sport you’ve got nothing to pin tomorrow’s newspaper or the
next five-minute clip on television or radio.

“The losses this year will be sizeable and any loss of
income impacts the whole game, from the Test team to counties, to clubs and
schools.”

Gower said the sport had been grappling with a number of
major issues prior to the pandemic.

“There were lots of problems in cricket before
Covid-19, particularly in terms of the nations outside India, Australia and
England, and issues around finance and structure. They won’t go away on their
own but if all this does help foster a spirit of co-operation, so much the
better. It would be great if there was a feeling of all being in this together
and if the old power struggles could be set aside in favour of keeping everyone
in business, getting games on and keeping everyone safe,” he insisted.

Article source: https://www.samaa.tv/sports/2020/06/david-gower-hails-west-indies-spirit-of-cooperation/