DELAYED START TO NCCA SEASON FOR STAFFS AND CHESHIRE AFTER CUP CALL
STAFFORDSHIRE and Cheshire face a wait to start their National Counties Cricket Association seasons after it was announced that the Twenty20 Cup has been cancelled.
The short format was due to kickoff the NCCA’S summer schedule - and was eagerly anticipated after last summer’s fixtures across all three formats were scrapped because of Covid.
Staffs were set to play Shropshire in a double header at Himley on Sunday, April 18, with Cheshire due to commence the following week at home against Staffordshire.
However, following talks between member counties, the decision has been made to pull the plug on this year’s T20 competition with factors including hotel accommodation proving crucial to the outcome.
Staffordshire, for example, had a fixture away at Northumberland, and it was felt not to be practical to travel on the day of the game.
A statement from the NCCA read: “The National Counties Cricket Association has reluctantly decided to cancel this season’s Twenty20 Cup competition.
“After seeing last year’s entire match programme called off because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was hoped all three formats could be played this summer.
“Although organised outdoor sports, including cricket, are due to be allowed from 29th March, following discussions with member counties, it was felt additional factors meant that it would not be possible to run the T20 competition.
“Among the logistical issues, overnight stays, which would be necessary for some fixtures, plus lengthy travelling distances, are not, in the NCCA’S view, ‘essential’ at this moment in time.
“Alternative options, including potentially playing the T20 competition later in the summer, were looked at, but not found to be workable.
“The health, well-being and safety of all players, officials and spectators is of paramount importance to the NCCA, which is why this decision has been taken.
“The NCCA remain positive that the 50-over format, due to start in late May, and the Championship programme, scheduled to begin in July, will proceed as normal.
“However, we will continue to work closely with the ECB to ensure that any Government advice is fully adhered to.”
Fingers are now crossed that NCCA matches will be able to be staged later in the summer.
No games at that level have been played since Staffordshire met Berkshire in the Championship final back in September 2019.
The Knockout Trophy will hopefully signal a return to match action for counties.
Cheshire start their bid for 50-over success on Sunday, May 30 with a home encounter with Cumbria.
Staffordshire begin two weeks later when they head to Cockermouth to play Cumbria.
The first round of games in the new-look three-day Championship format are in the diary for Sunday, July 11.
The traditional two-division Championship has been replaced by four divisions - two in the East and two in the West.
Sides who finished in the top five of their respective sections will be in Division One East and Division One West.
The remaining counties will be in Division Two East and West.
Promotion and relegation is in operation, with the champions of Division Two replacing the sides finishing bottom of Division One.
This new format was set to be played last summer, but the pandemic prevented any matches from being played.