Havant keen to get cricket back on at the Park, where Director of Cricket Jez Bulled is about to be stumped by Chris Ridley's slick glovework [note CR paid heavily to have this photograph published]
No play for the immediate future. …
That’s the grim news for club cricketers countrywide following confirmation from the England & Wales Cricket Board that, due to the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the recreational game remains suspended for the time being.
If club cricket does get the go-ahead to resume in the coming weeks, it is questionable whether there will be a sufficient amount of the season left to play much meaningful and competitive cricket.
Probably more than half of the Southern Premier and Hampshire League seasons will have been wiped out, leaving many clubs in fear of players walking away from the game to follow other pursuits.
There will be no promotion or relegation throughout the Hampshire recreational pyramid and this year’s divisional structures will remain unchanged until 2021.
The ECB have made clear in regular calls with parties that, if the recreational game is to return at any point in 2020, it will have to be done using both a phased approach and in keeping with strict government guidelines.
Both the SPL and HCL are committed to supporting clubs in providing some level of cricket, if and when it is permitted by the government.
Advantage
Insofar as the Southern Premier League is concerned, that could mean mini-50-over leagues or T20 matches in August and early September, with the Hampshire League teams playing friendly games between themselves.
Local cricketers are certainly taking full advantage of the relaxation of the lockdown regulations now that six people can attend practice nets, coaching and general group activity.
Havant were among the Premier League clubs who reported a significant player turn-outs at their initial training session last Saturday, when social distancing was strictly applied.
“We had 28 players training and anticipate even more this weekend,” enthused Jez Bulled, the club’s Director of Cricket.
It is believed Premier Leagues and numerous clubs across the country are pressurising the ECB for a July resumption, but as things stand, 11-a-side matches cannot be played until the go-ahead is given.
The ECB, though, is continuing to make representations to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to explore ways in which cricket at the recreational level can be made safe and possible in these difficult times.
That’s the grim news for club cricketers countrywide following confirmation from the England & Wales Cricket Board that, due to the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the recreational game remains suspended for the time being.
If club cricket does get the go-ahead to resume in the coming weeks, it is questionable whether there will be a sufficient amount of the season left to play much meaningful and competitive cricket.
Probably more than half of the Southern Premier and Hampshire League seasons will have been wiped out, leaving many clubs in fear of players walking away from the game to follow other pursuits.
There will be no promotion or relegation throughout the Hampshire recreational pyramid and this year’s divisional structures will remain unchanged until 2021.
The ECB have made clear in regular calls with parties that, if the recreational game is to return at any point in 2020, it will have to be done using both a phased approach and in keeping with strict government guidelines.
Both the SPL and HCL are committed to supporting clubs in providing some level of cricket, if and when it is permitted by the government.
Advantage
Insofar as the Southern Premier League is concerned, that could mean mini-50-over leagues or T20 matches in August and early September, with the Hampshire League teams playing friendly games between themselves.
Local cricketers are certainly taking full advantage of the relaxation of the lockdown regulations now that six people can attend practice nets, coaching and general group activity.
Havant were among the Premier League clubs who reported a significant player turn-outs at their initial training session last Saturday, when social distancing was strictly applied.
“We had 28 players training and anticipate even more this weekend,” enthused Jez Bulled, the club’s Director of Cricket.
It is believed Premier Leagues and numerous clubs across the country are pressurising the ECB for a July resumption, but as things stand, 11-a-side matches cannot be played until the go-ahead is given.
The ECB, though, is continuing to make representations to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to explore ways in which cricket at the recreational level can be made safe and possible in these difficult times.
 |  Portsmouth cricketers training in the nets at St Helen's, Southsea. |
