ECB Statement regarding recreational Cricket in Lockdown 2 + Wiltshire Cricket position on Education courses and Talent Pathway programme

The ECB have released a statement in relation to recreational Cricket activity during the period of Lockdown from 5th November to 2nd December

ECB Statement

As a result of the UK Government’s new national COVID-19 restrictions, and subject to Members of Parliament voting today and the publication of bespoke guidance from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport [DCMS], ECB understands all organised recreational cricket activity indoors and outdoors will be suspended from 5th November until 2nd December in England. Professional cricket that is classified as elite by the UK Government can continue as an exemption during this period.

Hospitality venues such as cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs must close; with the exception of providing food and drink for takeaway (before 10pm; and not including alcohol), click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery.

The UK Government has confirmed that school sport can continue as an exemption during this period but university sport must be suspended. Coach education programmes can continue where this cannot be undertaken online.

The health and wellbeing of everyone in the cricket community has and remains our number one priority and we are in dialogue with DCMS about how recreational cricket activity can return safely once the national lockdown ends.

Wiltshire Cricket Position

As a result of the above ECB position, Wiltshire Cricket will be reviewing its planned activity for the period of Lockdown. Fortunately, during this period, we do not have too much activity scheduled to take place and, indeed, are pleased that we will be able to continue working in an educational setting through our Chance to Shine programme (we are working in 16 primary schools during the term).

However, shortly after Lockdown is due to finish we do have Coach Development and First Aid courses scheduled to take place as well as the commencement of our junior Talent Pathway programmes in January. At this stage, there is no reason to assume that these programmes will not be able to take place. However, in the uncertain times that we are currently operating in we are doing everything we can to make contingencies for if any of our programmes need to be cancelled, paused or extended due to future lockdowns, or for if we encounter issues with access to facilites that we are scheduled to be using for our different programmes.

Finally, Wiltshire Cricket would like to reassure all participants and prospective participants on Education courses or Talent Pathway programmes that you should continue to register for programmes in the confidence that should any programmes be cancelled, postponed, paused or reduced in length we will issue refunds for activity that is not delivered.