ECB UPDATE: NATIONAL PROGRAMMES AND NATIONAL COMPETITIONS

Date: 24th June 2020

24/06/2020

https://ecb-comms.co.uk/1FT6-6X0BG-5D1FNAAF0C/cr.aspx

Dear all,

Thank you for your ongoing patience while we have been working closely with the UK Government and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to determine how best to move forward with our National Participation Programmes and National Competitions in 2020.

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.

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 4 July, as they continue to lift other restrictions more broadly across society.

As we continue to work towards recreational cricket returning on or around 4 July, though, it has become clear that given the current restrictions we will sadly be unable to run certain elements of the scheduled 2020 cricket season.

We have reached the tough decision that Dynamos Cricket will not take place in 2020. With the restrictions caused by COVID-19, we are unable to launch a brand-new programme, provide Money Can't Buy Opportunities and deliver a high-quality experience with fully trained activators this summer.

Whilst we won't be able to offer the programme, we are optimistic that clubs will be able to provide some forms of recreational cricket over the summer and we are committed to helping provide children with opportunities to play as soon as it is safe to do so. As such, we will be offering clubs support to ensure that some junior cricket can be played.

However, we remain optimistic that All Stars Cricket will be able to take place later in the summer.

For full details on why Dynamos is postponed, how All Stars will run and the impact on refunds and clubs, please click here.

With a condensed summer resulting in fixture challenges, we have taken the decision to cancel the below competitions to ensure that all players have an opportunity to play.

In addition, to ensure maximum flexibility for all clubs pursuing a return to action and because we believe it is safer for clubs and players to reduce their amount of travel we will be prioritising local playing opportunities over National and Regional competitions.*

While it is regrettable to have to cancel these competitions, the decision has been taken with public health as a priority and additionally to ensure that clubs are as free as possible to play as much cricket as they can in their local area once the game is able to progress to step 4.

Many of these tournaments would require rescheduling, which logistically could make it difficult for clubs to arrange other cricket and the health and safety of everyone involved in the game has been our priority throughout this period.

As such, the following competitions have been cancelled for the 2020 season:

National Counties Championship (Three-day cricket)
National County Showcase Fixtures v First-Class Counties
Royal London Club Championship
Vitality Men’s Club T20 Cup & Plate
Vitality Women’s Club T20 Cup & Plate
U18 Boys County Championship
U17 Super Fours
Royal London Boys County Age Group Under 14, 15 & 18 Cup Competitions
Royal London Girls County Age Group Under 15 & 17 Cup Competitions
ECB David English Bunbury Festival
ECB City Cup
ECB Over 50s County Championship
ECB Girls Regional Development Centre Festival
ECB Girls U15 Festivals

Decisions on Royal London Women’s County T20, U13 & 15 Boys and Girls’ club, Lady Taverners Club T20 and Lady Taverners Softball competitions will be made at a later date and ECB will share more information as soon as we are able to.

Local friendly matches will be encouraged later in the summer, should restrictions ease.

*This does not mean that ECB Regional Premier Leagues will be cancelled

England & Wales Cricket Board, Lord's Cricket Ground, London, NW8 8QZ