Yorkshire CCC wait on as ECB delay start of new cricket season

The England and Wales Cricket Board last night confirmed that the start to the county season has been delayed.

No cricket will be played until at least May 28.

Even that date sounds extremely optimistic.

As Covid-19 rips through society let alone sport, county cricket is the latest in a long line of casualties.

Half of the County Championship programme has thus been lost (seven rounds were due to take place before the end of May), and it would be some surprise if a red ball is bowled in this annus horribilis.

Priority, if we do get going, will be given to international cricket, the T20 Blast and The Hundred, thereby focusing on the most financially lucrative forms of the game as counties face a monetary black hole.

It remains possible that a reduced Championship could form part of a revised schedule, with the ECB keeping all options open, including that of playing some matches behind closed doors, which could then be broadcast to the public.

It is an unenviable situation for the governing body, which is presently working on potential revised schedules based on whether the season is able to start in June, July or August.

Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, said: “During this period of deep uncertainty it is the ECB’s first priority to protect the well-being of everyone within the cricket family, from players to fans and colleagues across the game.

“The decision to delay the start of the season has been essential, given the circumstances the nation faces.

“I am reassured by the collaborative effort from across the game that, together, we will make the very best of whatever length of season we are able to safely schedule in the coming months.

“With the information available to us at the moment, a delay to the start of the professional cricket season until May 28 was unavoidable.

“This also allows us time to keep pace with a fast-moving situation and continue to plan for how a revised season might look.

“Critically, we can also remain as flexible and adaptable as possible, within the obvious restrictions we face.

“Securing the future of the game will be a primary focus as we plot a revised schedule with an emphasis on the most financially important forms of the game for the counties across international and domestic cricket.”

Yorkshire had been due to play six of their 14 Championship matches before the end of May.

They were set to face Gloucestershire at Headingley from April 12, followed by games against Essex (A), Surrey (H), Hampshire (A), Kent (H) and Northamptonshire (A).