The Return of Recreational Cricket - Full Guidance

Following the latest update from the UK Government, the ECB is pleased to announce the return of recreational cricket in England, signalling a progression from Step 3 to Step 4 of the ECB’s roadmap to return for the recreational game.

This also allows us to advise that clubs who have previously run All Stars Cricket can now do so again (we will release specific guidance for All Stars Cricket next week).

We thank you for all of your efforts in helping cricket return.

ECB has maintained a constant dialogue with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) throughout this process and we have prepared a plan to support clubs and individuals as they prepare for the return of recreational cricket, including details of adjustments which should be made to respect hygiene and social distancing requirements.

That plan - available here - covers a number of areas of the game, including:

  • Pre-match adaptations regarding transport and symptom checking.
  • In-game adaptations applying to social distancing measures, hygiene, match officials and the use of equipment.
  • Post-game adaptations, including the potential use of club facilities.
  • Advice for coaches specific to individual sessions and junior cricket.

To support this, please also find here an eight step infographic, and an infographic for pre-match, in-game and post-game adaptations here.

Wiltshire Cricket Updates

In terms of Wiltshire Cricket we are doing everything we can to be ready to maximise the window we have for Cricket this summer, and are keen to ensure that all players and audiences get the opportunity to play. Specifically I would mention the following:

  • West of England Premier League – Aiming for a Saturday 25th July start with localised ‘bubble’ divisions created for a 6-7 game season
  • Wiltshire County Cricket League – Also will be running localised bubble divisions and will be writing to clubs this week for entries and details of seasons start and length
  • Wiltshire Youth Cricket League – Running localised ‘bubble’ divisions for Under 11s, 13s, 15s with fixtures aiming to start from Sunday 19th July
  • Women and Girls Club Cricket – Clubs have been written to asking to complete a survey indicating interest in different competitions for 2020 season. Wiltshire Cricket will facilitate competition for those that want it
  • Wiltshire Wallop – Clubs will be invited to enter a revised competition later this week
  • Under 19 T20 – Original entrants to the competition have been written to regarding interest in revised competition this summer
  • Talent Pathway Cricket – Following sign off of talent pathway (Girls and Boys County and District) as an audience that can move to step 4 of ECB’s roadmap we will be working with our coaches to arrange squad practices and matchplay if permissible