Pad up! Club cricket can restart next week

CLUB cricket can restart next Saturday.

After weeks of campaigning, the government yesterday gave the green light for the recreational game to return.

They will now publish guidelines this week to help clubs and players prepare for the sport’s return.

The Drakes Huddersfield League this week cancelled all its league and cup fixtures for this season and rescheduled them for 2021.

They are, however, hopeful of organising a limited overs competition starting later this month or next.

England’s Chief medical officer Chris Whitty said it was ‘very safe’ to resume playing, although said players should not hug one another or apply saliva to the ball. finally start their season on August 1, have had to cancel the contracts of overseas trio Keshav Maharaj, Ravi Ashwin and Nicolas Pooran for this

Former Yorkshire batsman and England captain Michael Vaughan has been calling for the ban to be lifted for weeks.

Yesterday he tweeted: “Finally, some sense. Let’s get the game started next week. Great news.”

Earlier in the day the ECB released a statement saying: “The ECB believes that cricket is a non-contact sport, with very low season due to the financial implications on the Covid-19 pandemic which saw them furlough their playing staff and coache. risks of exposure, and that it can be played as safely as many other activities being currently permitted.

“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.”