Captain Kane Williamson & fast bowler Kyle Jamieson prepare to take on England in the first of two tests at Lord’s. Video / AP
OPINION:
What a difference two years has made.
As I sit on a plane bound for the UK, across the aisle from Lockie Ferguson almost two years to the day since we last made the trip, it's apparent how drastically Covid-19 has changed the lives of athletes.
On that day,as I embarked on the challenge of a World Cup tour with the Black Caps squad, our section of the plane was a hive of excitement; guys were bouncing between rows or leaning over the backs of their seats.
Today couldn't be more of a contrast. There is just one other person in our entire section of the plane and not a noise except for the hum of the engines. Everything is wrapped in plastic.
An England tour is the cream of the cricket world - or, at least, it used to be. That World Cup truly was the experience of a lifetime. Everywhere we went there were cheers and shouts from the other side of the road or out of car windows. The feeling in the grounds was electric. A win and a loss against the West Indies and Pakistan provided what I thought would be the greatest atmospheres I'd ever play in front of, before they were comfortably usurped by the two-day epic against India in Manchester, then once again, of course, by Lord's a week later.
Jimmy Neesham at Lord's Cricket Ground in 2019. Photo / Photosport
However, pints, pubs and playing the tourist have now been replaced by darts, pool, cards and staring out the window. Last summer we had a stark reminder of how quickly things could change for us in New Zealand, with a thriller of a Twenty20 in Dunedin in front of a raucous crowd quickly followed by games in front of empty yellow seats at Wellington's Sky Stadium.
It can definitely throw you; it's a completely different game without that atmosphere. The logic is obvious - you're still playing for your country and it's still just as important a game. But there's just something visceral about hearing that roar behind you, knowing it really means something to the people watching.
The other big change is the uncertainty. Before the pandemic, it wasn't unusual for the players to have their next 18 months fully mapped out, knowing where their breaks were and which teams they'd be playing for in which competitions. As it stands, I depart from New Zealand with no clue of when I'll be back.
The T20 World Cup and a raft of upcoming sub-continental tours are still unconfirmed. Partly due to the Indian Board attempting to restart the postponed IPL before the end of the year, but mostly due to the rapidly changing Covid-19 situations worldwide.
It's a guessing game, which is why I'm so excited for this county opportunity with Essex. The T20 Blast is my favourite competition worldwide because you feel the most human. Everywhere else you're living out of a suitcase in locked down hotels 24/7, and that can become extremely tiresome.
In England, you walk through the doors at Heathrow, get the keys to your car and apartment, and they're yours for the next couple of months. You get to unpack your suitcase, find a favourite coffee shop and live a mostly normal life.
That will suit me just fine for the next wee while, until the glitz and glamour of cricket's richest tournament comes rolling around again.
• Jimmy Neesham is a Black Caps veteran of 12 tests, 66 ODIs, and 29 international T20s - and one of world cricket's leading white-ball all-rounders.
