Hard yards for Red Rose in isolation
LANCASHIRE Cricket’s playing staff are continuing to put in the hard yards in isolation until more details are revealed regarding the start of the 2020 cricket season.
The ECB announced in March that the season would be suspended until at least May 28 and that they are working on contingencies based on the season starting in June, July and August.
Further to that announcement, cricket’s governing body also pledged £61m to help cricket withstand the impact of COVID-19, including the early release of three months’ of county partnership distributions.
With the knowledge that the season could, at this stage, still commence as early as June, the players remain working through an intensive home exercise programme designed by the strength and conditioning team, building upon a solid pre-season which involved indoor work at Emirates Old Trafford and a week in Mumbai.
In addition to their training programmes, the players are also supporting the club in other areas (Membership, digital content and commercially) as Lancashire Cricket pulls together during this difficult period.
Lancashire’s director of cricket, Paul Allott, said: “We have been very pleased with the application shown by the players over the last few weeks. As with all other counties and sports, it has very much been an unprecedented scenario but in conjunction with the backroom staff, we feel we have been able to make the most of the situation.
“They have been following their programmes as set out by Tom Webster (strength and conditioning coach) and Sam Byrne (lead physiotherapist) while adhering to the Government guidelines and all of the coaches have remained in touch with them on an individual and team basis. Their welfare is obviously paramount to us and they still have access to all of the services we offer from both a physical and mental perspective.
“What has impressed me most is their willingness to get involved and help out in any way they can.
“The lads have been proactive in reaching out to other areas of the business and putting in time over and above their exercise programmes, whether that be making calls to members to check on their welfare or having an input into some of the content you will see on social media.
“We must take into account their mental wellbeing as well as their physical conditioning. We’re lucky to have a highly experienced sports psychologist in Lee Richardson, who has worked for the club for nearly a decade, who is in contact with all of our professional players.
“None of this would be available to the players if they were to be furloughed, and it is our intention not to do so, while keeping the situation under review.
“Ultimately, we have to ensure they are as ready as they can be for a cricket season to commence and we will continue to work towards that objective over the coming weeks and months.
“All of the measures that the club is adopting and implementing are fully endorsed and appreciated by the PCA.”