Fans bowled over by the return of cricket

CRICKET welcomed spectators back to watch live action for the first time this season.

Up to 1,000 lucky ticket holders were at The Oval in south London yesterday, watching hosts Surrey play Middlesex in a friendly match.

The event was the first in a series of Government pilots and was being hailed as a significant step towards the return of crowds at major sporting events.

Family groups of a maximum of six people were separated by at least two clear seats either side of them, and only alternate rows were used at the 25,500 capacity Test ground.

Hand sanitising stations and one-way systems were in place while bars and food stands were open, but with social distancing measures in place.

Surrey received 10,000 calls for the 1,000 places within an hour of the tickets being made available.

Chief executive Richard Gould said: “The sun is shining, cricket is taking place and people look happy.”

The two-day match is being followed

by a series of other events allowing spectators ahead of a wider return planned for October 1.

Up to 350 people will watch each session at the delayed World Snooker Championships on Friday and up to 5,000 racegoers will be able to enjoy Glorious Goodwood on Saturday.

THE sight of a cricket crowd watching live sport at The Oval yesterday filled the heart with joy. It was another small step back in the direction of normality, made all the more significant because it happened just as the thrilling finale to football’s Premier League was unfortunately being played out behind closed doors.

Developments abroad show the need for caution but the pilot sports event did also correspond with news that the shocking overcrowding on Bournemouth beach, as the easing of lockdown began, did NOT lead to any obvious spike in Covid cases.

If socially-distanced seating, and other precautions, can point a way towards the return of the crowds which are the lifeblood of sport then a return of theatre audiences must be a consideration too, as soon as safely possible, because our cultural life is in great peril.