SOUTHPORT & BIRKDALE
LIVERPOOL Competition chairman John Williams is hopeful some form of meaningful cricket can be played by clubs on Merseyside from early or mid-August onwards.
However, following Tuesday’s announcement by the ECB that Test matches are to take place in biosecure environments, local cricket officials will wait for further guidance from the governing body before fixing a firm date when the 2020 season can finally get under way.
“We’ve spoken to a lot of people and I don’t think it will be too difficult to organise something,” said Williams.
“A 13-strong Competition Restart group has been holding meetings on Zoom and we are now going to look at what format we might want to play on a Saturday if cricket is, indeed, possible.
“At the moment, the feeling is that we should probably play some form of limited-overs cricket, predominantly in regional groups.
“Obviously we will then have to give some thought to any special protective equipment anyone might have to wear such as masks etc.
“We hope to reach a consensus very soon and then we will present our recommendations to the clubs. I think most people are expecting limited-overs cricket from sometime in August and through September.”
But Williams is also concerned to sound a note of caution. Despite the pontifications of the amateur epidemiologists, nothing is certain about the spread of the virus which has changed everyone’s life and should there be a fresh outbreak of Covid-19, either locally or nationally, plans may be scrapped or radically changed.
“I don’t think anything will happen until the Test matches are up and running.” said Williams. “But if everything’s gone smoothly and there hasn’t been a second spike nationally, I believe recreational cricket can start.
“I do appreciate there are lots of issues still to be worked out but two or three weeks ago we were not that hopeful there would be anything at all. Now at least there is a chance we will get something.”
While Williams’ words are obviously good news for cricketers in Southport, players should note his warning before becoming too optimistic. At the moment it is forbidden even to hold club net sessions and it appears certain that clubhouses will have to be open, admittedly in a restricted form, before games can be put on.
All the same, Williams’ fairly sanguine attitude is shared by many other league officials across the country and even qualified hope is in sharp contrast to the mood a month or so ago.