At last! Club cricketers set to return to the field
The imminent return of club cricket has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ news – and players across Sussex can’t wait for action to begin.
After a frustrating wait for the green light, prime minister Boris Johnson announced at the end of last week plans were being put in place for recreational cricket to begin this coming weekend.
It’s too late to save the Sussex Cricket League season in terms of its actual league competitions but there has been huge interest in their proposed August Cup – with a whopping 180 teams having already said they want to take part.
In the run-up to the cup, teams are expected to play friendlies and intra-club matches – with some starting this Saturday, the earliest they are allowed to play.
Strict rules will be in place to ensure everything possible is done to prevent any risk from Covid-19.
Players, officials and umpires will all have to adapt quickly to a new way of getting a game on and ensuring it can be played safely.
Gary Wallis-tayler, interim head of community cricket at Sussex Cricket Foundation, issued a message to all Sussex clubs, saying: “Hopefully you have all seen the good news tonight regarding the return of recreational cricket from next weekend!
“This is fantastic news and we are all excited about being able to now safely return to play.
“We will in conjunction with the 1st Central Sussex Cricket League look to support you all over the coming days to ensure you have all the information necessary to return to play and in a safe environment.
“Playing guidance is due to be released shortly and as soon as that is released we will ensure its sent to you immediately.
“We will also look to hold a club webinar to update you further and answer any questions that you have.
“We can now look forward to playing as much cricket as we can for the remainder of the summer.”
Stirlands are among clubs eager to play and are glad a competition has been devised.
A spokesman said: “If the August Cup can happen and some form of competitive cricket takes place, that can only be a good thing. Some people were reluctant to travel across Sussex for friendlies with had little meaning.”