Earlier this evening (Friday 3rd July) the news we have all been waiting for arrived! The Prime Minister announced that recreational cricket could resume from 11th July, enabling the ECB to move to stage 4 of their Road Map, enabling cricket matches in England (with adjustments to respect hygiene and social distancing) to be played. Please click hear for full ECB Statement.

We are sure you will agree that this is fantastic news and the ECB will shortly be publishing guidelines on what matches and matchdays will look like.

The ECB have produced a guidance document on preparing your facilities for match play which includes a risk assessment template and risk management action plans which clubs should use to get ready for play, if they are in a position to.

The Grounds Maintenance Association have released a document today on getting pitches ready for play.

We have been speaking with leagues and competition organisers over recent weeks and they have been working hard behind the scenes planning for possible playing structures this summer.  Some Leagues have already been in contact with clubs about their offer and others will be following shortly.

Whilst we are all keen to get back playing, please be patient and don’t chase leagues who are yet to come out with communications. It has been an extremely turbulent and uncertain time. Giving leagues the space they need to finalise plans for the remainder of the 2020 season will be appreciated by all.

Getting cricket clubs ready to host matches and open clubhouses will be a particularly challenging task. There are a lot of guidelines to adhere to and many clubs will have reduced numbers of volunteers to do the work. Any help you can offer to your clubs whilst also showing patience and understanding will be gratefully received.

We know that some clubs will be ready to go on the 11th July but many more will need two weeks or three weeks to be ready to open up properly. There will also will be some clubs, volunteers and players who will not be in a position to be involved in any sort of cricket this season and we ask that you fully respect their reasons for doing so.

Please continue to treat everyone involved in our great sport with utmost respect and decency regardless of differing opinions, stances and decisions made.

We appreciate there will be lots of interest, enquiries and questions. These will all be answered as quickly as possible by the various organisations and stakeholders involved in our great game.

Have a great weekend and here’s to the sound of bat on ball coming to a ground near you very soon!