In our Downtime Diaries series, we speak to Kyle Coetzer about how Covid-19 has affected his life and cricket
Coetzer was meant to have a fairly packed April: eight ODIs split between tours of the USA and Namibia, and his 36th birthday. Instead, the Scotland captain is in Newcastle - where he settled during his stint with Durham - with his wife Sarah and daughters Louisa, six, and Gabriella, two.
With two young girls, what's the most streamed title in your home?
It's probably got to be Frozen. It's been hammered a bit. Toy Story has come back into the mix recently. We watched a few old classics, like Lady and the Tramp. We haven't watched 101 Dalmatians yet. Winnie the Pooh was on. We're digging them all out.
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What's a typical day like for you at the moment? I've seen some videos of you training outside with your kids, doing some creative stuff that you've posted online.
That training is a little bit for me but it's also a bit for them - keep them occupied doing something different. I got the decks cleaned and painted for the start of the summer, the garden all looked after, because we thought we're probably going to be out there quite a lot. Whenever we've got a chance, we're outside on the trampoline. I've been out for a bit of fitness and a bit of running.
You were supposed to be travelling for these ODI series that have been postponed. What has being at home been like?
I've been able to stay at home longer than I ever have done for the last three to four years. There's a lot of people in much worse positions than we are. We've got a house to stay in and our contracts are being honoured - although we are furloughed. It's just been different, trying to fill the time and stay occupied in different ways.
We try a new sport outside every day with the kids. I baked a cake, a chocolate cake. The kids managed to bring out some Frozen sprinkles and lollies to stick on the top, so it was Frozen-ed up to the max.
When was the last time you baked before that?
Other than cupcakes, never. Well, actually me and Sarah were in a dessert competition at Northants when I was there. We were the winners of it in 2013 or 2014. We've still got the trophy. We made a chocolate cheesecake.
New Zealand Cricket have said it's highly unlikely that their tour to Europe will be happening, and all ICC events through June 30 have been postponed. You're also due to play Australia in a T20I in June. Considering you rarely get fixtures against Full Members, what would the impact be if they get called off?
Obviously it would be disappointing. Because it involves our income and it's our profession, it's worrying, but there are certainly a lot of worrying things going on in the world at the moment. I hope cricket recovers, Cricket Scotland recovers, and every other nation recovers. There may be a silver lining to it down the line if we get quite an extended period of competition. It's challenging for all but we just have to put it all in perspective. Sport is important to us but not to everyone.
What's the No. 1 thing you've gained perspective on in the last month?
I'm just trying to really make the most of my time with the kids because I realise how much I have been away, and they've actually loved having me back. The last couple of weeks since we've not been training, I've stopped going up to Edinburgh. I normally travel up to Edinburgh every Monday and Tuesday. If it's during the season, there's a midweek game or club practice on Wednesday, maybe a club game on Friday, and then play Saturday and Sunday. So it's a pretty hectic schedule in the summer otherwise.
What's the one thing about cricket that you miss the most that you can't wait to do once matches eventually resume?
I just think the social side with the guys getting back together, the dressing-room stuff, and hopefully winning a few games of cricket. I've gotten the urge to pick the bat up in the house and play a few shadow shots that I'm known for.
Cricket will recover in time. We've just got to all stick together and support each other, be thankful for what we have and thankful for the people that are helping. We'll all find our way.
More Downtime Diaries here