IND vs AUS | Not surprised that cricketers have started talking about bubble fatigue, stresses Ian Chappell

After a long time without international cricket, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, cricket returned albeit with a new set of rules pertaining to a bio-secure bubble, which needed the players to avoid any sort of contact with the outside world. While it has provided an immediate solution to hosting international cricket around the world, it has also caused its own set of problems, in terms of the players having bubble fatigue. 

Earlier, several English players expressed the mental fatigue caused by the bubble, after being in such an environment for six months now. Due to the same issue, a large number of English players pulled out of the Big Bash League, which has really brought the issue to the limelight. Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell stressed that he isn’t a bit surprised to cricketers’ talking about bubble fatigue. 

"I have never experienced anything like this, and I am not surprised some players have started to talk about bubble fatigue. We had a couple of England players who have already pulled out of the BBL for that reason," Chappell told reporters in a conference call organised by Ray Events, reported TOI.

"I am sure the bubble fatigue is going to kick in so my sympathies with modern players having to do this," he added. 

While there is no real solution to the bubble fatigue, Chappell stated that having a huge squad of players and giving the star players a break from time to time might lower the impact of the stress caused by staying in the bubble. India travelled to Australia with a large contingent, albeit because of the 14-day quarantine period that is made mandatory by the Australian government. 

"If you look at what India have got coming up, they are going to need a huge squad of players," said Chappell.

"And I think all teams are going to need a big squad of players, not just because you got to isolate some but because there is going to be this mental fatigue of being stuck in a bubble," he added.

Sri Lanka are set to kick-off their share of international cricket, with the series against South Africa, that starts later this month, with the Boxing Day Test at the SuperSport Park stadium.