Leagues given green light to begin season
With international Test cricket returning this week and the County Championship being given the green light to start on August 1, the government has agreed for recreational, domestic cricket to be allowed from this weekend.
The recent government guidance has allowed cricket to move into step four of its roadmap which will see cricket matches allowed by adjusted to remain socially distanced. It has been noted that matches should follow shorter formats to allow for more games to take place with all ground maintenance now allowed to take place.
The usage of outdoor facilities are also permitted with restricted use of hospitality and indoor facilities in line with government guidelines, which saw many clubhouses reopen in some capacity last weekend.
With the news coming extremely quickly, the West of England Premier League, Somerset League and Bristol & District League have decided to allow clubs time to prepare for a start to the season which has been penned for July 25.
ECB chief executive officer Tom Harrison said: “It will come as great news to our nation of recreational cricketers that the UK Government has given the green light for the game to return from next weekend. We are grateful for the support of government to achieve this, in particular Oliver Dowden, Nigel Huddleston and those across DCMS who have helped the return of international, professional and now recreational cricket.
“We have had a responsibility throughout this period of time to work with the UK Government and to plan alongside the cricket network to try and mitigate COVID-19’S impact on the 2020 season. We have maintained a constant dialogue with UK Government and they’ve been supportive of our desire to see recreational cricket return when it is safe. They now agree that with appropriate measures in place to mitigate the risk, it is safe.
“We know how difficult it has been for everyone to go without cricket this summer, and we thank you for your patience. As the nation’s summer sport we believe we have a role to play in getting people active across the country, especially young people, and it is heartening to know that club cricket - albeit with social distancing in place and some other adaptations - will soon be back across England.”
WEPL clubs had been given until Monday to tell the league if they would not be participating this season, or if they were unable to host matches. While Somerset League teams were given until yesterday.
In a statement, WEPL said: “While recreational cricket still remains suspended and despite the recent comments from the Prime Minister, the ECB has released confirmation that they remain confident that cricket can move toward Stage 4 on the previously reported roadmap to cricket, meaning that adapted game play should be possible together with COVID-19 secure guidelines.
“At this stage, there is no indication as to when the next update will come from either the Department of Culture, Media and Sport of the ECB. In the meantime, we believe it prudent to continue to plan in a positive way.
“Unfortunately, given the current restrictions, we will be unable to play our initial half-year plan but it is clear from surveys that our players would like some sort of competitive cricket if we are able to organise it.
“We are therefore going to offer the following option for our clubs:
We are putting together ‘bubble’ divisions for either four, six or eight teams based around localised matches and playing as full a game as possible under the restrictions imposed.
“Provided the guidance allows, we would aim to commence on Saturday, July 25 and run for six/ seven weeks [September 5] depending on the size of the ‘bubbles.’ Further details will follow when we have updated information, but we wanted to inform you of our intentions in order that you can get your grounds ready for play.
“We would point out that there are unlikely to be any independently appointed umpires and that clubs will be required to provide one themselves. Thank you for your patience. We hope that you have been successful in keeping your club running in some fashion during this difficult period.”
The Somerset League has issued a similar statement, but also added that clubs are able to play friendlies this weekend and on July 18. The Dorset League has put together a competition structure consisting of six weeks of matches of 40 over games commencing on August 1 and is open to all clubs who are interested and any number of teams can be entered.
While the Wiltshire Cricket League is also looking to go ahead with a standalone competition for 2020, they are planning on giving clubs at least 14 days’ notice of any start date and the new fixture schedule will be given out within five days’ notice of a club’s first fixture. The Mid-wessex League is aiming to begin on Sunday, July 26 and also run for six/seven weeks within ‘bubble’ divisions of either four or six teams. Clubs have been given until tomorrow to confirm to the league which teams are being entered and any hosting issues clubs may have.