Oh, these challenging times!

If you want an extreme example of resilience in the game of cricket then you need look no further than the Indian team which recently toured AustraliaDespite a horrendous first Test batting collapse followed by the departure of their inspirational captain and then a spate of injuries that wouldrsquove floored a lesser team India still managed to win the series 21 Despite all the challenges they played some skilful entertaining cricket to beat a side renowned for its home turf prowess it was an outstanding achievement by an irrepressible bunch of competitorsDaunting taskThe game is going to require a similar dose of resilience as it continues to face a number of searching challenges Currently administrators and players in the IPL are encountering a daunting task as COVID cases in India continue to surgeFor the players there is the fear of serious health issues and the challenge of bubble fatigue The administrators on the other hand have the enormous responsibility of keeping everybody safe while weaving their way through a maze of rigorous protocols that can change daily Is it any wonder that mental health concerns are on the tip of everybodyrsquos tongueOnce the IPL is completed hopefully without any major setbacks therersquos the challenge for Englandrsquos administrators to repeat last summerrsquos juggling act of hosting two touring teams for a series of matches Having survived last seasonrsquos resourcedraining season with virtually no crowds to boost gate takings they now face the challenge of hosting India a country that is currently designated a red zoneThis means that all the players visiting England from India are going to face strict quarantine hurdles before being able to play cricket As well as the Indian squad these regulations will also apply to New Zealand and England players who have been in the IPL It will be a severe test of the administratorsrsquo diplomatic skills and the playersrsquo patience While the BCCI has the resources to withstand a severe financial buffeting the ECB will be stretched to the limit if yet another season becomes a financial drain Englandrsquos resources will be further stretched as theyrsquove made a heavy investment in a new form of the gameThe One Hundred is due to be launched this season Surely there couldnrsquot be more challenging circumstances for a Board trying to promote a new tournament to a public that already possesses a healthy dose of skepticismBig match in EnglandAs if those werenrsquot enough challenges to be faced therersquos another debutantmdashthe World Test Championship finalmdashto be played in England which involves India and New ZealandThen therersquos the World T20 event to be staged in India later in the year Hosting this multicountry tournament will present a challenge only surpassed by Japan trying to accommodate the Olympics as the COVID19 pandemic continues to threaten its citizensIn the midst of all these challenges therersquos further turmoil with the administrative upheaval occurring in South Africa one of the stronger playing nations The game canrsquot afford another West Indiesstyle slide into mediocritymdashcertainly at Test levelmdashfrom one of its major drawing nationsIf cricket administrators and players thought last year was a severe test itrsquos proving to be just a rehearsal for what has to be the gamersquos most challenging 12 monthsIt is said ldquoWhat doesnrsquot kill you makes you strongerrdquoThat being the case if this yearrsquos challenges are overcome it could indeed strengthen the game but it wonrsquot happen by luck It will require much thought and some longterm planning combined with a strong dose of resilienceTest cricket which often appears to be teetering on the edge of a precipice is the form of the game that needs the most nurturing in these challenging times It would help the process if India and New Zealand provide an entertaining spectacle at the final of the World Test ChampionshipIf only half those challenges are successfully met it will be a triumph born from resilience and creativity