LEAGUE CRICKET IN LANCASHIRE IN PRE-LOCKDOWN

Date: 16th July 2020

Risk Assessments required prior to ALL cricket. Clubs asked to rethink "friendlies"

As a result of the rise in the cases of the Coronavirus in Blackburn and Darwen, and the tightening of government measures there, the ECB have advised that cricket clubs in the Lancashire Local Authority are in a pre-lockdown situation.

Leagues have been asked to emphasise the Stage 4 playing guidance to all clubs and to limit the travelling distance for teams. Significantly the ECB has recommended that those within the Lancashire Local Authority Area cancel all planned friendlies this weekend. At the time of writing, all friendly fixtures in the Lancashire League and the Ribblesdale League have been cancelled.

The Lancashire Cricket Foundation have asked that all their Leagues, and that includes us, make an appropriate response.

In the knowledge that our official League programme of eight matches starts on 1 August we ask all our clubs to consider whether their planned “friendly” fixtures are really necessary. (Note that intra-club games between your own members are classed as practice and are unaffected).

In any event the Management Committee have decided to extend the reach of the Statutory Health and Safety Risk Assessment as outlined in:

http://www.lpoolcomp.co.uk/management_bulletins.php?id=3519

to include all friendly fixtures, Junior Fixtures, Women’s and Girls Fixtures, and T20s, and with immediate effect require confirmation to the League Secretary, chrislizweston@talk21.com that an appropriate document with full mitigations has been produced and published to users before any matches involving visiting clubs are played.

We are sure you will recognise the seriousness of the situation and that we stand with our whole Lancashire County Cricket Community in taking appropriate action now, in order to protect what is left of an already shortened season.

Please contact John Williams or Chris Weston if you have any specific questions or issues.

Liverpool and District Cricket Competition Management Committee

16 July 2020.