Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LARGE BORIS WOBBLE Stumped Johnson reviews his own decision to ban club cricket and now it will start again next week
CLUB cricket has finally received the green light to resume next week after Boris Johnson asked for his own DRS review.
Just hours before the daily briefing that cheered all recreational cricketers, the Prime Minister had continued to put a block on the summer game by taking aim at the humble tea and changing rooms for reasons why it could not be played.
But in a welcome reverse, Johnson admitted he had been “stumped” by the earlier question and after taking advice from the third umpire
– in this case, chief medical officer Chris Whitty – he was now ready for the game at club level to resume.
Club cricket can resume from July 11 with Johnson saying: “I just want to be clear. Having been stumped on the radio this morning, I sought scientific advice and medical opinion, the third umpire has been involved.
“We do want to work as fast as possible to get cricket back and we will be publishing guidelines in the next few days so that cricket can resume in time for next weekend.”
The decision was met with widespread joy across social media, where former England captain Michael Vaughan went from calling the Government’s decision-making “bonkers” to hailing the news.
Vaughan said: “Finally. Some sense. Let’s get the game started next week. Great news.”
And the ECB, who had been blindsided by Johnson’s earlier remarks, but had continued to fight their corner through chief executive Tom Harrison and with Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden just as delighted.
In a statement they said: “We are delighted that the UK Government have given their permission for recreational cricket to return from next weekend.
“We will shortly be publishing our approved guidelines to help clubs and players prepare for cricket’s return.”
There will be obvious amendments to the game to ensure social distancing and reduce contact between players, such as the need for individual teas and for players to arrive ready to play in their kit, avoiding the changing rooms. Pavilions and club bars will also need to operate under strict social distancing guidelines to ensure risks are minimised, while on-field celebrations must be kept to a minimum.
Whitty said: “One of the issues with cricket is it brings together much larger numbers of people in terms of linking households than you do the six people that is laid out as the maximum number who should be meeting even outdoors now.
“But it is perfectly possible to have cricket where people do keep their distance.
“And provided people don’t do things that are clearly not sensible ranging from hugging the bowler who has bowled someone for a duck through to spitting on the ball it should be able to make the game very safe as an outdoor sport at a distance.”
There was good health news for the England squad after Sam Curran tested negative for coronavirus following a bout of illness that had caused him to isolate in the team hotel.
His team-mates wrapped up their three-day intra-squad match with the 30-man training group to be reduced to 22 on Saturday.
And from next summer there will once again be two overseas players per county allowed in first-class cricket to match T20 cricket.