Newly-signed for a BBL stint, West Indies captain Jason Holder has warned more needs to be done worldwide to protect cricketers' mental health amid often-claustrophobic coronavirus protocols.
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Holder will make use of the travel bubble between New Zealand and Australia to play three games for the Sydney Sixers in December, with the West Indies currently turing across the Tasman.
It means the allrounder will not be required to quarantine in Australia before the first BBL game of his career on December 20, as he joins compatriot Carlos Brathwaite in the Sixers' squad.
It comes amid a hectic schedule for the 29-year-old, who has had just six days at home since June.
Holder played in the West Indies' tour of England, the Caribbean Premier League and Indian Premier League before arriving in New Zealand, and has a tour of Bangladesh set for January following his brief BBL stint.
He has spent the vast majority of that time in hotel rooms due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although the Windies players are enjoying some "normality" in New Zealand now their 14 days of quarantine are up.
It will be a similar set up in Australia, with the BBL bubbles set to be somewhat relaxed provided COVID-19 case numbers remain as low as they are across the country.
"I don't think I have spent this much time locked away in a hotel room in any time in my life," Holder said.
"I'm not sure how much longer we can sustain moving around in these bubbles.
"It's been really tough being sat in the room seeing the same walls. Every time you leave and come back the room feels a bit smaller."
Holder's comments echo those of David Warner, who also believed players would begin skipping tours soon.
Holder said he understood countries like Australia and New Zealand which had done a good job of managing the virus had to have strict measures in place.
But he believed international cricket boards should do more to ensure families can tour with players or allow for more interaction between players while in quarantine.
"They have to put more in place and push back a little more to governments to find a reasonable solution to the quarantine situation," Holder said.
"You travel together but then can't go into your mate's room and play video games or something.
"We just need to find the balance where we're doing what we can to stop the spread of the virus but still be looking after the players and their mental health."
Australian Associated Press
