ECB still confident of club cricket action this summer

The ECB hope to see the return of club cricket 'on or around July 4'
Club cricketers have been unable to get out on the field so far this summerClub cricketers have been unable to get out on the field so far this summer
Club cricketers have been unable to get out on the field so far this summer

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) remain confident that the recreational season will able to get under way next month.

The Northamptonshire Cricket League, along with every other club league across the country, is yet to see any action this summer due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The season had been due to start at the end of April.

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But the ECB are still hopeful that club cricketers will get some time out on the field as lockdown restrictions continue to be lifted.

When asked about club cricket in the House of Commons this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The problem with cricket as everybody understands, that the ball is a natural vector of disease, potentially, at any rate and we’ve been round it many times with our scientific friends.

“At the moment we’re still working on ways to make cricket more covid-secure, but we can’t change the guidance yet.”

In response, the ECB released a statement which said: “The ECB along with the nation’s cricket players are keen to see the imminent and safe return of our sport at recreational level and have been working hard with government to achieve this.

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“We believe that cricket is a non-contact sport, with very low risks of exposure, and that it can be played as safely as many other activities being currently permitted.

“It is our strong desire to work with government to see the return of recreational cricket on or around July 4, as they continue to lift other restrictions more broadly across society.

“We are heartened that the government has already permitted the return of other ball sports, including tennis and basketball, and we are sure that our interpretation of the risks around ball transmission is consistent with these other games.

“We can confirm that any guidance we share with the game will include directions on how to mitigate any risk from handling the ball as we continue to prioritise the health and safety of the cricket family in all our decision-making."