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[six and out]

I posted in the other COVID-19 thread on international cricket but thought it needed it's own one as it's actually officially happened.

Cricket is off in Essex and Suffolk until further notice.

Link to the 2 Counties website statement-

http://twocounties.com/10924/cricket-suspended-in-essex-and-suffolk/

Link to Suffolk board website-

https://suffolkcricket.org/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-update-17-03-2020/

[KettonJake]

Calling the league off seems to be jumping the gun considering the ECB meetings with leagues are set for the next 2 days.

[six and out]

Calling the league off seems to be jumping the gun considering the ECB meetings with leagues are set for the next 2 days.

Yep definitely, that is exactly what I (and all the lads at the club) said

[ppccopener]

Premature it may be but we may have to see all leagues following suit and the whole season being cancelled. Having missed the whole of 2019 with hope of playing a bit in late summer ..it's looking like a bleak outlook.

Away from my own issues the ameteur game has seen a huge drop off in players in the last 5 years so some may miss the year and not return for varying reasons, putting clubs under more financial pressure.

Impossible to imagine any government help financially, how many of us hand on heart would pay the annual costs to their club for this year with no games at all?

It looks at the moment like sports and social clubs will be unable to carry on.its not just annual subs, it fund raising, how much money is taken over the bar,etc...

We all hope that's wrong but I cannot see any other outcome.

[jonny77]

I think our club would be fine but I'd happily pay subs if needed,  even if there was no cricket

[six and out]

The subs is an interesting one, we have already had a few at the club ask about it after the statement came out, as they have already paid subs for the year.

I have paid, but am of the opinion the club will need it so am not going to kick up a fuss etc....

You can't really do anything about the missed bar takings and fund raising days etc....

I can certainly imagine some clubs will be in trouble.

[Canners]

Who here plays in the 2 counties then 🧐

[19reading87]

Who here plays in the 2 counties then 🧐

@Vulcan Cricket , @SOULMAN1012

[SOULMAN1012]

@Vulcan Cricket , @SOULMAN1012

Yep absolute (No Swearing Please) all this nonsense

[Vulcan Cricket]

It is what it is soon can change.. plus the  league matches would start soon.. plus people had preseason games as well

[Kez]

May seem an early shout but seems pretty logically given the situation and advice being given.
And as Dean says it can change pretty quickly. Groundsman are probably happy they have a few extra weeks to get pitches ready given the shocking amount of rain we had this winter.

[JTtaylor145]

I play in the two counties league also and have been expecting this announcement to come out.

It is a real shame, this year for the first time in our clubs 125+ years we were going to play a 5XI.

Fingers crossed we will see some cricket. I told my wife that cricket seemed unlikely for a few months she seemed very pleased and couldn't understand my utter despair. I promptly walked out to the garage put some gloves on and starting tapping bats up...felt much better for it 

[Vulcan Cricket]

Yes it all change fast let's hope for some nice weather at least we can head out side for a few nets in the open air

[SLA]

There's a helpful and well-informed article on this subject here: https://www.cricketworld.com/return-to-cricket-what-will-recreational-cricket-look-like-when-the-covid-19-lockdown-eases-/63113.htm

here's a bit I found particularly insightful:

We are assuming that the ECB/Government will give clubs/schools some form of a licence to run junior and senior practice and fixtures with some modifications and protocols in place like
 
-              Face masks for coaches / umpires
-              Disposable gloves for coaches & participants
-              Social distancing marked out with cones/discs
-              Appropriate Outdoor/Indoor refreshments and toilet facilities
-              Hand washing facilities on site (before and after practice)
-              Sanitising gel
-              Most at risk groups asked to respect government advice
-              No sharing of equipment
-              Flexibility on subs
 
We think that these measures at least should allow clubs and schools to keep everyone safe and allow them to get some cricket going.
From there we can then look at getting a game or match on……
 
How to Play Existing Fixtures
There has been an awful lot of work already put into this, behind the scenes, by league and officials to date – Saturday ECB Premier League, other Saturday League, Sunday League and Junior Fixtures.
The main concern though is how we can actually play a game of cricket that is ‘SAFE’, even if you have agreed the fixtures?
Well, there are going to probably be some major tweaks to your league rules and possibly the laws of the game in order to fulfil any league fixtures – for instance, shorter matches - T20 instead of 45 overs, T10 instead of T20 etc – maximum one slip, gully etc for social distancing – gloves worn by all fielders?
There will also be some club members that simply do not want to return to cricket in this environment, so there may be a challenge in actually getting sides out to fulfil any existing fixtures that there might be in your club/school calendar. As a club you will need to consider how to manage playing fixtures with social distancing rules in place not only for yourselves, but for the opposition too? You as individuals or families have to consider what risk you may or may not be prepared to take this summer?
So our advice would probably be to start slowly and involve members in your decision making process and give them the options – try and  get the ‘SAFE’ training and net practices in place, see what the appetite is to play some matches and how this can be done in a ‘SAFE’ environment - firstly by organising internal club matches and then look to play some friendly fixtures against local clubs and villages.

[Jimbo]

All seems quite sensible. Even if it was the case that we could go down to the club and have a net with a couple of people at a time that would at least be some kind of cricket again.