South Africa episode highlights the perilous knife-edge on which cricket exists

NICK HOWSON: CSA do not deserve huge criticism over the postponed ODI series. Bio-secure bubbles are a relatively new phenomenon. But we must get used to series and competitions disappearing

• COYNE: ICC must improve next World Test Championship
• Salvaging a lost summer: How academy cricket survived its toughest season

A full English international summer. The Caribbean Premier League. The Indian Premier League. The Women's Big Bash League. Zimbabwe in Pakistan. Just when cricket looked to be successfully navigating the Covid-19 pandemic, with several competitions and tours completed without a single positive test, it suffers a terrific thump back down to earth.

The second half of 2020 has seen an extraordinary effort from everyone involved. Governments have been accommodating, cricket boards well organised, players accepting of quarantine, matches behind closed doors and swabs regularly up their noses. Fans meanwhile have been grateful to have something to shout about, albeit mostly from the comfort of their sofas.

This latest setback, the postponement of the three one-day internationals between South Africa and England following an outbreak at the teams' hotel, does not detract from that achievement. But this is a reality check, a reminder that our invisible enemy is unrelenting and cares little for our brilliant game.

Cricket South Africa should not be overly criticised for this shortcoming. Granted, the bio-secure bubble created at the team hotel has been burst. Positive tests have preceded both the T20s and the scheduled ODIs. Hotel staff have also been affected. This has been a failure in keeping players and support staff safe; the first and only priority.

Welcome to the wacky world of South African cricket governance

But you're also allowed to have a degree of sympathy. Bio-secure bubbles are a relatively new phenomenon. As much as nations will try to learn from one another, there are undoubtedly going to be subtle differences in execution. No two situations are the same.

That much is true if you factor the timing of this series into the equation. The UK had just 35.5 per cent of the cases South Africa, who tipped over the 800,000-mark last week, are currently attempting to manage while West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan and Australia were on tour. They also benefitted from living accommodation being at grounds. Emirates Old Trafford and The Ageas Bowl were made for the pandemic, so to speak.

West Indies and Pakistan, meanwhile, were kept honest in England but have lapsed in New Zealand. Both squads have been accused of breaking protocols. Babar Azam's squad has meanwhile recorded six positives. Their schedule, pencilled in for later this month and January, is far from certain of going ahead. As yet, India's trip to Australia has been unaffected.

The ICC have been conspicuous by their absence throughout the pandemic. Cricket is likely to be affected by coronavirus for some years one way or another yet publicly the governing body have offered little in the way of leadership. Guidance over bubbles and advice to nations has not been forthcoming. The countries are on their own. But at least the points system for the World Test Championship has been sorted out.

^{The ICC have watched from afar as cricket has found a way to survive}

Perhaps the most significant legacy from this cancellation might be some loss of confidence in the security of bio-secure conditions, particularly in South Africa. Sri Lanka, Australia and Pakistan are due there this summer and they will all need reassuring if those trips are to be fulfilled. And that is before you even broach the subject of CSA's credibility, which after a torrid few months is on the ropes again.

England players may have concerns of their own. While the surroundings at home were restrictive and will need to be eased for next summer, they were safe. Twenty-three matches played between five different nations produce zero positives.

But on their first foray away from foreign shores things have unravelled, though their movements have not been as restricted. That will hardly inspire confidence ahead of series against Sri Lanka, India and for the women New Zealand. As Sir Alastair Cook has stated, these bubbles may now become more strict, rather than be eased as the players want.

There is at least some reassurance in the form of the ongoing Lanka Premier League and the IPL in the United Arab Emirates - where England will likely have to travel to face Virat Kohli's team - where there is already evidence of a successful strategy having been implemented.

Previously, in an era of cricket which feels unrecognisable, the greatest ignominy a player could suffer on tour was carrying the drinks throughout. But being inactive now comes with an additional burden. Your experience of a permanent role on the side-lines is wearing blue gloves, a hotel room and a stranger feeling your tonsils. While teams will want to plan for every eventuality, forcing players to undergo these measures with no view of playing is an unsustainable situation.

^{Days without cricket cannot be met with total surprise}

Olly Stone, Reece Topley, Moeen Ali, Mark Wood, Sam Billings, Lewis Gregory, Liam Livingstone and reserves Jake Ball, Tom Helm and Tom Banton depart South Africa having not seen a ball yet have been forced to jump through the same hoops as their active teammates. For Banton and Tom Curran, the whole experience has proved too much, forcing them to skip the Big Bash League and 14 days of self-isolation, in Australia. They will not be the last.

What is clear is bubble fatigue, as with any indefinite lockdown measure, is starting to set in. Both the CSA and ECB cited the "mental and physical health and welfare of players" in their joint statement regarding the curtailment of the tour, a decision which was taken before the latest positive cases had been ratified. It sends a message that Covid won't be allowed to dictate terms and there is another dangerous invisible evil at play.

Though dozens of tours and tournaments are in the pipeline, this latest episode highlights how fragile all aspects of our daily lives are. Bio-secure or otherwise, cricket falls firmly into that category. Impending matches are permanently TBC until they are complete. If players can be hauled from the field, as England were during a tour match in Sri Lanka in March, then anything is possible.

This is a reminder as to the knife-edge cricket currently exists on. We must be gracious for every four, six, wicket or catch we do get, rather than lament what we cannot control. This will not be the first series, on the brink of commencing, to disappear from the schedule at the drop of a hat. This dynamic is here to stay for the immediate future. A rocky road is inevitable and in many ways that is the best we can hope for.

Gift a subscription to The Cricketer this Christmas and choose your free gift (a £20 John Lewis gift card or copy of Bob Willis: A Cricketer & A Gentleman). Subscribe here