Bowlers return to individual training sessions

Up to 18 bowlers will take part in individualised training sessions across seven county grounds from today, the England and Wales Cricket Board has announced.

Edgbaston, Emirates Old Trafford, Emirates Riverside, Kia Oval, Trent Bridge, Taunton and Hove are the assigned venues, with each hosting at least one session this week before a full roll out from Monday.

The designated bowlers, whose identities have not yet been confirmed, will have their temperatures checked but no testing is planned in stage one of the return to training.

One of the key principles of the individual sessions is maintaining a minimum of two metres physical and social distancing but as training advances to smaller groups, there will be more stringent testing.

For the rest of this week, a physiotherapist will be at each venue to oversee each session, observing social distancing measures, before ECB and selected county coaches return to individual training from next week.

Batsmen and wicketkeepers are due back on June 1 with England director Ashley Giles saying the return to training coincides with a build-up to what could be the start of a three-Test series with West Indies behind closed doors on July 8.

Bowlers must bring their own kit, including assigned cricket balls, wash their hands regularly, clean equipment used with disinfectant wipes and arrive at training ready to start practice.

If they bowl in an empty net, they must collect their own ball, which is not allowed to be shined with saliva or sweat.

Bowling into a mitt has been deemed a permissible form of individualised training but coaches must bring their own mitt and wear a disposable glove on the other hand.

Ashley Giles: Hopes to get Test series started on July 8.