National lockdown could save cricket season in England – Yorkshire CCC’s Martyn Moxon

The county’s director of cricket believes that there is more chance of it going ahead after the strict controls taken due to the crisis.

The government has banned gatherings of three or more people, ordered the closure of shops selling non-essential goods and said that people can only leave home once a day to exercise.

Although cricket, like all sports, is a piffling consideration in the prevailing emergency, Moxon is adopting a positive approach.

“I’m hoping that the measures that have been taken actually make the season more likely to go ahead,” he said.

“If, by stopping the spread of the virus, it helps things come back to normal quicker, then that’s got to be a good thing.

“The quicker that we can get on top of this situation, the quicker we can hopefully come out the other side.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board last week said that the season will not start until May 28 at the earliest.

Events have moved swiftly, however, and no one knows when – or if – there will be any action.

“Obviously, we can’t say when the season is going to start,” said Moxon.

“It’s pure speculation because we don’t know how this virus is going to react.

“We can’t say anything for definite and, first and foremost, it’s an awful situation for everyone throughout society and across the world.

“At the end of the day, we can only hope that none of us are involved in any worst-case scenario.”

Should county cricket be possible, it is unclear exactly what form it would take.

White-ball cricket will naturally be prioritised, for the simple reason that it brings in the readies, which means that the T20 Blast will be the top priority.

Beyond that, international cricket is key for the game’s administrators, as well as The Hundred, the lucrative new 100-ball tournament.

The 50-over Cup is likely to be lost – it was due to have taken place alongside The Hundred and be submerged by it anyway – and the County Championship is vulnerable to cancellation/heavy reduction.

The Championship brings in the county members, particularly here in Yorkshire, but it does not bring in too many crinkly bits of paper featuring the Queen’s head, placing it at an obvious disadvantage at a time when business in general – let alone county cricket clubs – are struggling financially.

“It depends on when we start as to what form the season will take,” added Moxon.

“But, the longer it takes to start, the more likely it is that it will only be white ball.

“I think that’s a fair assumption, given the situation in which the game finds itself, and the most obvious outcome.

“The later we start, the more likely it is that white-ball will dominate.”

Moxon had hoped that the Yorkshire players might be able to return to collective training by the middle of next month, a situation that now seems improbable.

The players are currently following their own individual training programmes in line with government guidance about staying at home.

“We had said that the players will be training at home until at least April 14,” said Moxon. “But, realistically, we’re not going to be coming back on April 14.

“I can’t see it; the government is reviewing things after three weeks, but it’s unlikely that we’ll be back by then.

“The virus is obviously still spreading so the tighter measures are now in place.”