The Coronavirus pandemic brought sporting activities to a screeching halt from March 2020. Though devastating in many ways, including the deaths of millions of persons worldwide, it has forced sporting organizations to make radical changes. Cricket West Indies (CWI), apart from on the field changes, have had to change how they engage with media.
Ahead of the CG Insurance T20 International Series against Sri Lanka, CWI arranged three press conferences. Unlike in normal times, when journalists would have to be in the country where matches were being played, these were conducted via Zoom. This method has been in place since the West Indies team resumed touring in late 2020, the first team to agree to play during the pandemic.
From the comfort of my living room in Grenada on Sunday February 28, and from my office on Monday March 1, I was able to participate in media sessions with Phil Simmons and Chris Gayle, respectively.
This lends for a more efficient process. Within an hour of both press conference….plus or minus a few minutes….Content & Media Officer, Dario Barthley, had shared the recordings with the journalists, via a WhatsApp group to which I was added on Sunday.
Chris Gayle told journalists that his mindset is still good, during the press conference on March 1, via Zoom.
Due to my work schedule (cricket is just a hobby), I had not been paying attention to West Indies cricket or teams. The increased accessibility that technology allows, means that my interest in watching and reporting, has resurfaced.
Other technological improvements since 2003 when I first started covering off the field topics for CaribbeanCricket.com allow me to upload photos and write blog posts faster. This entry was typed on an iPad. No need to have a laptop. The photos were screenshots using the same device. My Fuji Finepix camera has gathered cobwebs.
When….not if….COVID19 is no longer an obstacle for travel, it is expected that Cricket West Indies will conduct press conferences using a hybrid format, to widen the net of media persons to cover matches, those present and others like me who have a day job unrelated to cricket.