Maybe it’s just me, but I can sense that beady-eyed bugger staring daggers at me until I can no longer ignore it, filling me with that sense of impending “ugh”. Maybe I also need to go back to my psychologist.
The point I’m trying to make is that this could be an analogy for the COVID-19 situation from now on local sporting circles.
I know, I know, you’re just as sick of reading and hearing about it as I am putting it into words, but unfortunately that’s the reality we’ll all have to live with for … well, who knows how long?
As much as we want to get back to “normal”, and I’m not even really sure what that means now, that little monster will be nipping at our heels.
And while we don’t want to give it much attention, we might need to break out the calamine lotion to cover ankle bites every now and again.
We already saw this last week with cricket action finally getting under way in both the Sunraysia Cricket Association and Red Cliffs Cricket Association.
After weeks of waiting, players were able to return to the field, well most, with Mother Nature deciding it might be amusing to ensure there was some rain about. We can all agree her sense of humour wasn’t to our taste that day.
Those who missed out were from Merbein South, and their opponents. Unfortunately for the Saints, a COVID case had been detected at the club during the week and with players isolating after getting tested, club president Aaron Walder took the safety-irst approach and pulled all teams from competition.
It was a hard thing to do but probably the right call overall, just to keep safety at the forefront. And in reality, it won’t be the last time a team, player or competition will need to do so in the near future.
While the virus is still among us, it’s almost inevitable that someone involved in sport of some description will be forced to withdraw.
That will also create headaches for organisers in terms of what is seen as a fair result. In some cases, teams might see cancelled games as missed opportunities to gain extra points or percentage, or others could see an opposition’s points, or lack thereof, as a massive advantage or disadvantage.
There’s no easy answer to the question of what’s the best way to deal with it, as opinions are like backsides – everyone has one.
I think for the sake of just getting back to playing sport and, more importantly, integrating back with people in a social or slightly more competitive settings, everyone needs to be flexible and be willing to roll with the punches.
I know it’s easy to say that from the outside looking in, but we all have to be realistic that there will still be some choppy waters ahead.
The best thing is that everyone is getting back into sport, that sense of escapism, finding that release valve once again after it had opening and closing before being jammed shut for so long.
And if she, who I won’t name again, still thinks it’s funny to make it rain only on weekends after all everyone has been through, I think some stern words should be sent her way.
I mean, I enjoy dark or humour as much as the next person, but that’s just taking the you know what.
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Renegade Rhiann hits her stride
LET’S turn to some better news and ask, how good is it seeing Rhiann O’Donnell performing on the big stage?
Her story just goes to show that with hard work, dedication and finding the enjoyment back in what you do, you can earn another chance to move forward. If you haven’t read our chat with her from the October 16 edition of the Daily, grab yourself a copy or find the link online to see just how much it means to her to be back in representative cricket.
The 23-year-old has debuted for the Melbourne Renegades, who are flying in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). After not getting a chance to bat or bowl in her first game, she’s now proving her worth with ball in hand.
With her very first delivery for the Renegades, she grabbed the wicket of the dangerous Brisbane Heat batter Grace Harris. In the past two games she has bowled the full complement of four overs and shown plenty of accuracy, a valuable commodity in the T20 game.
It’s nothing less than she deserves after constantly travelling between Mildura and Melbourne last season to play, and earning the Una Paisley Medal as the top player in Victorian Premier Cricket Women’s Division.
No doubt her home club Mildura West, as well as all cricket fans in Sunraysia, are right behind O’Donnell, and Workers Gol Gol export Makinley Blows, as the girls in red aim for their first WBBL title.
