No high-fives and hugs, James Anderson shows post-COVID-19 celebrations in cricket

Cricket is returning back with England hosting West Indies in three Tests starting from July 8 at Southampton. With this being the first international match after the lockdown due to coronavirus, the match will be played in empty stadiums.

Not just that, cricketers will not be able to high-five nor hug. Only elbow contacts and smiles will be allowed and England Cricket gave fans a glimpse of the post-COVID-19 world.

 July 1, 2020

The pictures are from England’s internal practice game between Team Stokes and Team Buttler on Wednesday. Veteran James Anderson, who has returned to action since suffering an injury in New Zealand, was seen celebrating his wickets with elbow dabs.

In a video shared by England Cricket on its official Twitter handle, Anderson who had trapped Joe Denly (48), celebrated with elbow dabs even after wicketkeeper Ben Foakes had raised his hands for a customary high-five.

 July 1, 2020

In the absence of Joe Root, the Ben Stokes-led England side will take on West Indies in the first of the three Tests starting from July 8. This will be the first Test in which the new rules

will come into play. One of the rules being the ban on the usage of saliva to shine the cricket ball to help minimize the threat of cricketers getting infected.