ECB warn that Northants could be forced to play behind closed doors due to coronavirus pandemic

The move is one of a number of options being considered by the England & Wales Cricket Board as it draws up contingency plans in case the escalating coronavirus crisis stretches into the spring and early summer.

The pandemic has already decimated the sporting calendar for the next few weeks, with professional football across the UK being suspended until April 4, while the London Marathon, which was due to be staged at the end of April, being postponed until October.

The ECB insist they are working with the mindset that the new season will start as normal with the first fixtures due to start on April 12, but that they are considering 'parallel scenarios' if it becomes reality that the Covid-19 virus has not cleared in the UK by then.

As well as matches being played behind closed doors, other measures being considered include 'postponing or cancelling elements of the season'.

The ECB statement reads: "We are undertaking a number of steps to prepare for potential outcomes that an ongoing situation with Covid-19 might bring for the cricket community here in England and Wales.

"In conjunction with our partners across the network, we are building contingency plans across a number of possible eventualities.

"Our main priorities are to ensure we scope out the landscape for financial, logistical and scheduling implications.

"It is difficult for us to be sure of what outcomes the game might be expected to deal with.

"Therefore, we will continue to plan for the expectation that the season proceeds as normal, but in parallel prepare for a range of scenarios.

"These could include the possibility of playing matches behind closed doors, or potentially postponing or cancelling elements of the season.

"We continue to enjoy constructive dialogue with DCMS and also our commercial and broadcast partners – who match our ambitions to see the game of cricket thrive in 2020 and beyond.

"We are certain that jointly, we will all come to solutions that best protect those who love cricket, and the game itself."

The opening matches of the new Championship season are scheduled to start on April 12, but Northants don't start until a week later when they take on Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

David Ripley's men's first home game is on April 25, when they are due to host Essex at the County Ground.

Aside from the Championship, the other competitions scheduled for next summer are the Vitality T20 Blast, which starts in May and runs until mid-July, the Royal London One Day Cup, which begins in mid-July, and runs alongside the ECB's new and controversial The 100 competition, which launches this summer.

The Northants players are currently in Singapore on a pre-season training camp, and are due to retun to England on Friday (March 20).