Cricket season is delayed

GOLF’S European Tour will resume in July with a run of six tournaments over six weeks in the UK, but the Dutch Grand Prix has been put back until 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus crisis has seen the golf calendar wiped out since March 8, but a return date has now been set with the British Masters at Close House near Newcastle the opening tournament on July 22.

The season will run through until December, with all tournaments played behind closed doors and subject to strict safety and testing protocols.

The start of the County Cricket season has been postponed once again until August 1, with a variety of models being assessed for what would now be a drastically shortened campaign.

The season had already been delayed twice but the previous holding date of July 1 has been pushed back another month as the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc with the schedule.

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board said: “The ambition remains to host domestic men’s and women’s cricket” in the coming months, with the Professional Game Group in charge of outlining several options for how the 2020 season could play out.

It will present its ideas to the ECB board in June, with the idea of regionalised groups on the table in first-class cricket and some consideration being given to having a small number of fans in attendance. Streaming matches for viewers at home is also on the agenda.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, said: “Naturally we want to see cricket being played at every level. We remain hopeful of seeing both domestic and recreational cricket this season.”

In Formula One, the Dutch Grand Prix’s return has been postponed due to Covid-19.

The race is being revived for the first time since 1985 and was originally due to be staged on May 3.