Notts Prepare for Two Month Season

Matt Davies

After being largely confined to flats in West Bridgford, or homes on the outskirts of the city with young families since late March, Nottinghamshire's players will be hoping to return to work on July 1.

With cricket - and society - put on lockdown due to the coronavirus, players and the vast majority of club staff have been on furlough in a bid to stem the financial black hole Trent Bridge faced.

It is encouraging that the club reported a near £1m profit two years ago, but that drain still exists and they are still unsure just how big the hit to their bank balance will be.

Ramifications will be far reaching in a commercial sense, while players face also uncertain times when it comes to salaries and opportunity.

In the short term, there is at least optimism that some sort of season will take place in from the start of August until the end of September - something that was not always the case.

"We're hoping to play a two month season. It seems fairly obvious that the shorter the game the easier it is to play," said director of cricket Mick Newell.

"If it's short enough, you can arrive in your kit, play and go home again. The social and catering side will be difficult, but I'm much more optimistic now we'll play.

"I wasn't optimistic at all in April. If we get an August 1 start date we'll try to get four and a half weeks to get ready.

"We can do that physically in terms of being ready for four day cricket. The bigger concern is hotels and where people would stay.

"We might get more announcements in early July to make that more viable."

Newell was not furloughed and has worked from home throughout the crisis, focusing on cricket as well as administrative matters with most off-field staff also furloughed.

He admits it has been a case of "plan, re-plan and plan again" but he believes the sport has responded well in the circumstances.

Both he and head coach Peter Moores say some four day cricket is possible but the sense is a behind closed doors burst of limited overs matches is more feasible.

Moores too remained fully on the pay roll with physio James Pipe the only member of the support staff in the same boat.

Even so, both Moores and Newell have used their first summer break at home in around 40 years to tackle new challenges.

Newell has honed his cooking skills and taken to his garden, growing tomatoes and courgettes with mixed results, while Moores dug flower beds for the first time at the age of 57.

More recently former England coach Moores has worked closely with Stuart Broad and Joe Root at Trent Bridge as they prepare for international duty.

He has remained in regular contact with Notts players through Zoom, looking to help them adapt to their own new circumstances.

However, he says they have to stand on their own two feet.

"There's been two camps for me. There's the lads with kids like Mullaney, Gurney and Fletcher," he said. 

"They've got challenges with that. The other lads had the challenge of being in a flat in Bridgford with no garden for weeks on end.

"They're getting out and about now at least. I said right at the start of this that we push them to be independent.

"They had a chance to prove they can run their own life. They know how to stay fit and when they come back they should be ready to go.

"It's been strange. We've all gone through different phases during lockdown.

"It's been a bit of a personal reset opportunity. You can look at where you are, where the club are. We've made a lot of changes as a club.

"On a personal level you can take stock and get off the treadmill of life. I've had more time with my wife.

"I've never had time in the house in the summer before. We've tried to look after the players, the members and of course your own family.

"I enjoyed being at home. Everyone is aware of how serious the wider situation is and how tragic it is that so many lives have been lost.

"We've been very lucky personally that we've had time to connect with people we've not spoken to for a long time.

"The biggest thing for me cricket wise is that it was taken away and when we get back, I hope we've all got a bigger appreciation for it."

Medical fears over rushing fast bowlers back into match action could yet scupper plans for truncated County Championship season

RICHARD GIBSON FOR MAILONLINE

Concerns over the welfare of fast bowlers could yet scupper plans for an abridged County Championship this summer.

Although a schedule of regionalised four-day fixtures from August 1 onwards has been drawn up and circulated to counties, a virtual meeting on Thursday involving Nick Peirce and Raph Brandon, the ECB's chief medical officer and head of science and medicine respectively, plus the 18 first-class chief executives threatens to force the implementation of plan B.

Sportsmail understands fears exist amongst county medical practitioners about rushing bowlers into match action in what one ECB source described as 'a touch-and-go time frame'. 

The International Cricket Council recently provided guidance that players returning to Test cricket would require a minimum of eight to 12 weeks of preparation, the final four to five weeks of which would involve match intensity bowling. In contrast, they suggest three weeks of intense bowling for 50-over cricket.

Peirce advised England managing director Ashley Giles of the need for a five to six week lead-up for the Test series versus West Indies starting on July 8. The first players returned to practice five weeks ago on May 20, giving them a fortnight to build up their fitness and eight weeks in total.

However, the clock is ticking against a county game with players on furlough at 16 of the 18 clubs. As for the two that are not, Lancashire's bowlers returned to training on June 8 while Surrey's are due back next Monday. Others might not resume until June 29 at the earliest.

Under return to practice protocols, a bowler increases workload gradually, delivering the ball at reduced pace for the first fortnight, which would mean just two to three weeks of full-tilt bowling for a good number.

Although players have enjoyed lengthy rest periods due to Covid-19, that potentially makes them more vulnerable as with the universal closure of gyms they will have lost their all-round strength in addition to bowling fitness. They would then be faced with a saturated itinerary of five four-day matches across across a five-week period.

Player rotation would reduce the physical demands but if the general risk of stress fractures of the back is viewed as too great in the circumstances, the truncated 2020 season would revert from a first-class/Twenty20 split to one with 50-over and T20 competitions supplemented by first-class derbies in September, as first revealed by Sportsmail.

The proposals put forward by the professional game group - the four-day element of which will also need hotels to be functioning to allow teams overnight stays - require ratification by the counties and ECB board by July 6. It was initially anticipated that a final decision would be made the following week but the timings were brought forward to provide clarity for player preparation.

Meanwhile, the ECB have announced an extra £30.22million of advanced funding for the counties and MCC to help them through the coronavirus crisis.

Rebel counties back down in red-ball row.
Elizabeth Ammon.

The Times.

Tuesday, 16 June 2020.

PTG 3160-15636.

Fears of a split in the county game have reduced after the small group of clubs who said they didn’t want to play red-ball county cricket this season backed down (PTG 3157-15620, 13 June 2020).  Northamptonshire led several counties who had objected to proposals that would see the return of red-ball cricket this year on the grounds of player safety but primarily for financial reasons, stating that four-day games would be too expensive to stage while their income streams have dried up.

However, county cricket’s financial situation is not is precarious as it might have been as counties have received their share of this year’s broadcast revenue to date which, in some cases, amounts to several million pounds. Sixteen of the 18 counties have also received funding from the UK government’s Job Retention Scheme for the past three months, having furloughed most of their staff and players while continuing to receive some membership subscriptions.

All counties, with the exception of Glamorgan who are waiting for further instructions from the Welsh government, are now preparing to bring their players off the furlough scheme by the start of July ready to start playing competitive cricket at the start of August.  On Monday, Northamptonshire, keen not to be cut adrift from the developing plans for the return of county cricket, announced their plans for getting their players back to training. Ray Payne, their chief executive, said he was eager to see a return of the players to the field regardless of the format.

It is understood two other counties, one of which was Somerset, had voiced concerns about playing first-class cricket this year in what was described as a “heated” meeting of chief executives last Thursday. Gordon Hollins, Somerset’s chief executive said that his views had been mischaracterised and that the county were adamant they want to play first-class cricket if at all possible but would not be rushed into a decision before assessing both the safety and financial implications of a return.

A decision on what the county schedule does not need to be taken until mid-July.  There are two options.  The first is for a regional first-class competition with three groups of six and a final followed by a regional T20 ‘Blast’ in September and the first half of October.  The second, if the regional red-ball competition was not possible, would see a regional 50-over one-day series in August which would enable teams to be able travel to and from matches on the same day, followed by the T20 ‘Blast’.  Counties could play first class cricket but not in a formalised competition.

The Professional Cricketers’ Association is negotiating a system whereby players need to “opt in” to playing this year if they are satisfied with the safety measures. Those players who have concerns either because of their own health issues or because they live with someone vulnerable could choose not to play. County players all agreed to take a 20 per cent pay cut while the season was suspended and it is unlikely that they will return to full pay immediately on their return to work.

George Dobell 15/06

Some county clubs could be off furlough and back in training within days as preparations for the domestic season move up a gear.

With an August 1 start date looking more likely than ever, several clubs are keen to give their players - and their bowlers in particular - six weeks' preparation time. Lancashire and Surrey, the only two clubs that did not put their players on furlough, are already training, with the likes of Worcestershire hoping to join them from June 22.

Other clubs, such as Somerset, are looking at bringing their players off furlough for July 1.

The next step is for the ECB to provide more guidance towards a return and confirm funding. Counties have already been paid all the money due from the ECB until the end of July. It is anticipated that in Wednesday's chairmen's meeting, confirmation will be provided of full funding until the end of the year. That meeting is also likely to see the counties given the go-ahead to return to training within appropriate health and safety guidelines.

With some players - particularly those who have pregnant partners - expressing concerns over the health implications of a return, it is likely an 'opt in' system will be operated. This will see all players who are prepared to play completing a questionnaire confirming their choice. It will be an 'opt in' rather than an 'opt out' system to minimise the sense that players are being coerced to return against their will. There will be no repercussions for those who do not return but, with contracts at stake and places to fight for, players will inevitably feel some pressure.

It also seems likely that players will be asked to return to training without the restoration of their full pay. In most cases, players have accepted a temporary 20 percent pay cut in recognition of the financial challenges currently facing the sport. While this policy will be reviewed in the coming weeks, there appears to be something of a consensus building that suggests the policy will continue for a little while yet. It could be changed if, as hoped, counties are able to welcome specators to their grounds when the Blast season begins at the end of August.

The exact shape of the domestic season remains unclear. While the PGG (Professional Game Group) remain keen on starting the season with four-day cricket - it seems certain several of the bigger clubs will play first-class cricket against one another come what may - logistical issues around the booking of hotels could yet see 50-over cricket as the first format to return.

It also seems increasingly likely that all 18 first-class counties will be involved. It would appear that those clubs which were reluctant to play have had a sharp reality check in recent days, with the ferocity of the response from the majority of their rivals leaving them under no illusions that, if they opted out now, they may find it hard to opt back in.

On Monday even Northants, perhaps the most reluctant of all to this point, released a statement in which their chief executive, Ray Payne, insisted he had "always" wanted "to play as much cricket as we can this year". It seems pressure from players and supporters may have helped convince them.

Clubs remain hopeful that spectators will be allowed to watch games. With pubs and restaurants likely to open in some capacity from July 4, counties hope that by the time the T20 Blast season starts around 11 weeks from now, at least some ticket holders will be permitted to attend.

George Dobell

Somerset's chief executive has rejected the portrayal of his club as reluctant to return to action, insisting that "no county wants to play cricket this year more". Gordon Hollins, who started his job at Taunton earlier this year, said he is keen to see the team playing again but will not be rushed into it before appropriate safeguarding - both health and financial - is complete.

While county cricket looks highly likely to return at the start of August, the formats to be played remain unclear. The Professional Game Group (PGG), which effectively runs the domestic game, has proposed playing a regional-based first-class competition at first, with a T20 Blast season to follow a few weeks later.

But some teams feel the logistical and financial challenges of playing four-day cricket could make the 50-over game a more pragmatic solution. In particular, there are concerns about the availability and safety of the hotels and restaurants that would be required by their players for overnight stays. One county also appears reluctant to play 50-over cricket.

Key to counties committing to taking their staff off furlough (16 of the 18 are currently furloughed) will be a confirmation of funding from the ECB. To date, the ECB has provided all the funding that would have been expected from them until the end of July. The ECB board met on Friday with an expectation of further funding confirmation expected in the coming days. Until that announcement comes, however, some counties are reluctant to commit themselves to costs they could struggle to afford. Gloucestershire are also understood to be taking a cautious approach to a return.

But while they may be unwilling to confirm plans at this stage, it does not mean they should be perceived as unwilling to play, according to Hollins. Somerset, like several other clubs, are expected to take their players off furlough at the start of July with a view to an August resumption.

"No county wants to play cricket this year more than Somerset," Hollins said. "We have a duty to act responsibly and ensure the wellbeing of all those involved, while being confident that decisions made now support the short and long-term interests of the club.

"Some good work is being done by all county clubs and the ECB on the structure of this season and we are fully committed to supporting that work and finding an optimal solution for all counties to ensure that cricket successfully navigates its way through this unprecedented crisis."

Hollins' comments may pour balm on what was becoming an increasingly fractious disagreement. With some clubs desperate to play to satisfy sponsors, members and players, others are much more cautious, which has caused great frustration. A recent chief executives meeting became unusually heated, with those expressing reluctance - and Northants are probably the most reluctant - told they had accepted ECB money, government money (in the form of the furlough agreement) and, in many cases, membership money. As a consequence, it was suggested their role as cricket clubs was to return to action if deemed appropriate by the relevant health authorities.

In reply, it is understood those clubs expressed more preference towards playing 50-over cricket and required further assurances over both health and financial arrangements.

As a result, there has been talk of the bulk of the clubs moving on without the small number of reluctant ones and playing a competition that excludes them. This could be achieved by a two-thirds majority vote.

There has also, for the first time in many years, been talk of a couple of clubs being permanently excluded in a move that would see the number of first-class teams cut. As one chief executive is understood to have put it in the meeting, "If you don't play us this year, we may not want to play you next year."

While the chances of a formal first-class competition may have diminished somewhat, several clubs are insisting they will play first-class games come what may - possibly on a friendly basis or in standalone competitions.

Those counties also retain hopes of welcoming in spectators. With pub beer gardens (and hotels) likely to re-open on July 4 and most cricket spectators forced to watch outside anyway, several counties hope they could arrange some socially distanced arrangements to recoup at least some ticket revenue from the start of August. They also remain hopeful that, in September, they may be able to welcome larger crowds for Blast games.

Somerset's position among the more cautious counties is something of a surprise. But it may be relevant the club parted ways with their previous chief executive midway through last season after it became apparent their financial position was not as healthy as had previously been thought. A combination of ground redevelopment costs (not least new floodlights) and a high salary base for the players has created a tough environment for a new chief executive dealing with a pandemic. Other clubs are already circling round their out of contract players.

It should be noted that neither the drive to resume county cricket or the threat to move on without some counties is coming from the ECB executive. Instead, it is the PGG, which includes Surrey's Richard Gould, Durham's Tim Bostock and Sussex's Rob Andrew, who have proposed the fixture list and are attempting to assure clubs of the importance of returning to action.

EWCB season could begin without all 18 counties.
Tim Wigmore.

Lomdon Daily Telegraph.

Saturday, 13 June 2020.

PTG 3157-15621,

Whatever competition arrangements eventually apply to the domestic professional season in England and Wales (PTG 3157-15620 above), it could resume without the full complement of counties due to a reluctance by teams to take players off furlough for financial reasons.  Of the 18 first-class counties, only Lancashire and Surrey have not furloughed playing staff, while the UK government's job retention scheme has proved to be a lifeline to other counties, with many facing the prospect of having to cancel contracts and make redundancies without it.

Representatives from several counties have claimed that two clubs have reservations about committing to beginning the domestic season on August 1, with suggestions being that bringing players back is financially less viable, especially with the prospect of limited crowds at best for matches. Both counties in question declined to comment when asked about their position on the matter.

The situation has thrown the start of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (EWCDB) domestic season into further uncertainty, though resistance from a few counties is unlikely to scupper plans to play the season if doing so can be done in accordance with government regulations.

Any final decision on the August 1 start - the preferred start date, would not need to be taken for around another month, giving a few weeks for players to prepare before the season. But the earlier that any decision can be taken, the more clarity for players and supporters. While it is hoped that a unanimous decision can be made about resuming, it now seems possible that a small batch of counties could choose to opt-out of the season altogether.

Apart from the key issue of player safety, the financial viability of resuming cricket is also said to be driving counties' concerns. If domestic cricket can resume on August 1, it is likely to be completely behind closed doors for at least the first few weeks, though it is hoped that limited crowds can be allowed by the time the Twenty20 Blast begins, which has been planned for August 28.

The economics of taking players off furlough to prepare for the season, and then staging matches themselves, are also less favourable for counties with smaller memberships and smaller capacity grounds. Even if crowds can resume at some stage this season, they are likely to be only around one-quarter of each ground’s normal capacity due to social distancing regulations.

But many chief executives believe that, while playing cricket this northern summer could leave them worse off financially than not playing in isolation, the need for goodwill from supporters and sponsors means that everything must be attempted to play matches, even if this exacerbates the financial difficulties many counties are already facing. 

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has published a five-step roadmap for the return of recreational cricket.

People are currently allowed to train in groups of up to six, as long as social distancing is adhered to - stage three in the roadmap.

Stage four would be adapted matches and stage five a return to normal, free of any restrictions.

"We have an ambition to get cricket played as soon as it is safe to do so," the ECB said in a statement.

"Although social distancing is likely to be in place for the foreseeable future, cricket is a non-contact team sport with individual disciplines and, as such, we are optimistic about getting cricket played this summer.

"The safety and wellbeing of the cricket family is our number one priority, therefore we will only move to step four when it is safe to do so and supported by government and medical experts."

Stage four adaptions would include shorter formats to allow more games to be played while still observing social distancing, and reduced hospitality and indoor facility use.

Stage five, which would see all formats, league, competitions and facilities available, would require social distancing rules to be removed, with the ECB saying "it is hard to see that happening this summer".

The current advice is for England only with the Welsh government set to review current restrictions on 18 June. BBCSport

Notts Cricket Board Statement

On Saturday 30 May, the UK Government announced that professional sport can start to recommence behind closed doors from 17 June. The England & Wales Cricket Board’s response can be found here.

The announcement relates to professional sport and not necessarily the recreational game. However, the ECB is seeking to progress discussions with the government to begin mapping out a return for both junior and senior cricket.

The recreational game remains suspended with no cricket to be played at the present time, with the sole exception of regulated use of outdoor facilities (nets and pitches) in England for the purpose of undertaking exercise. You can access the relevant guidance and protocols.

In the event of a resumption of senior recreational cricket in Nottinghamshire, the Board – in collaboration with the above leagues – has agreed the following principles:

• Our guiding principle for decision-making regarding the 2020 season is the health and wellbeing of our cricket communities.
• Recreational cricket can only resume when the government and the ECB have given approval for it to do so and provided the game with detailed guidance.
• The NCB and participating leagues are focussed on providing clubs with the opportunity to play meaningful and competitive cricket, when and if the opportunity arises. Leagues are prepared to be creative to make best use of any windows of opportunity available to play the game, noting that there will be restrictions such as venue sharing and ground availability to be considered.
• There is acknowledgement that a fair and appropriate notice period will be required by clubs ahead of any resumption.
• Leagues will not impose penalties on clubs who are unable to use their facilities through no fault of their own, or upon those who are unable to field teams due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.
• Plans for Premier League Division 2 qualification to take place in 2020 will be delayed until 2021, pushing the start of the Division 2 competition to the 2022 season.

In addition to the above principles, the leagues have decided there will be no promotion or relegation within, in to, or out of their competitions based on fixtures played in 2020.

Supporting information for cricket clubs can be found on the Board website here. Should you have any questions or observations, Club Development Officers Joe Fish (joe.fish@nottsccc.co.uk) and Andrew Wilson (andrew.wilson@nottsccc.co.uk) are available via email.

We continue to urge clubs, players and volunteers to adhere to government guidelines at all times. The latest information can be found here.

We are all united in our determination to get back to playing the game we love at the earliest opportunity. Until then, stay safe and thank you for your patience.

Catch - 22

Matt Roller

Furloughed county cricketers have been left frustrated by the specifics of the UK government's job retention scheme, having been advised by their counties that they should not use net facilities at local clubs despite the fact recreational players are now allowed to.

All but two of the 18 first-class counties - Lancashire and Surrey are the exceptions - have made use of the job retention scheme to furlough their players, whereby the government pays an employee's wages when an employer's business has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ECB issued guidelines two weeks ago permitting recreational cricketers to return to the nets providing they follow a series of health protocols including maintaining social distancing, but counties have warned their professionals that they should not follow suit while they remain furloughed.

Under the terms of the scheme, employees are not allowed to do "any works that [either] makes money for your organisation… or provides services for your organisation," but are permitted to "take part in training". But it is understood that because the term "training" is considered to take on a different meaning within elite sport when compared with an office setting, counties have their hands tied.

Gloucestershire players Ryan Higgins and Ian Cockbain both expressed their confusion about the situation via Twitter on Friday. "Why can't we train only for the love of the sport? Baffles me," Higgins said, while Cockbain suggested that players training should not be considered to be different from employees in other sectors furthering their skills through studying or taking exams.

Higgins told ESPNcricinfo that he had asked the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) for clarification but had been left with the impression that the issue was a "grey area". A PCA spokesperson said: "We totally understand the frustration this is causing players and we are speaking to the ECB around some clearer directives".

The Daily Mail reported this week that rugby union clubs had been told by HMRC on Thursday that they would be able to bring players back into a formalised training setting while they remained on the furlough scheme, but ESPNcricinfo understands that the ECB has not received any such guidance.

As things stand, counties are planning to take their players off furlough around four weeks before the start of whatever season is possible, with the start date currently pencilled in as August 1, and the ability to bring players back into training without taking them off the scheme would provide a significant financial boost to the county game.

The frustration for county players will be felt particularly keenly after England named a 55-man training squad on Friday, which will see those involved taken off furlough before they resume.

An HMRC spokesperson said: "Our guidance is clear that furloughed employees can engage in training. But they must not do anything to provide services to, or make money for, their employer or a company linked or associated to their employer."

No Play Before August Domestically

The England & Wales Cricket Board has confirmed a further delay to the start of the county season, with no domestic cricket to be played before 1 August.

The ambition remains, subject to ongoing advice from health experts and the government, for domestic cricket to take place later this summer.

“Any further delay was always going to be disappointing for our players and coaches, as it is for our members and supporters,” said Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell.

“But we’re in a situation that has affected absolutely everyone, and we all fully understand the reasons why we need to stay at home for a little bit longer.

“Players and coaches are desperate to get the game on, and there is a willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve that.

“There’s an awful lot going on behind the scenes with the ECB, the PCA and the county chief executives preparing for a resumption of domestic cricket.

“Science and medicine departments across the country are putting in a lot of work to establish what procedures may look like based on government advice, with the health and safety of players and spectators at the top of everyone’s agenda.

"We’re in regular contact with our players and we’re doing all we can to get them out on the field as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.

"We are thankful for everybody’s patience and understanding and will provide further information to our members and supporters as soon as we can.”

A number of scheduling options from August onwards are being explored, including models that incorporate both red and white ball-cricket, matches being played at all First-Class grounds and the use of regional groups.

Plans are being drafted for matches behind closed doors and for games taking place with limited crowds in attendance in adherence with social distancing guidance.

The ECB and the Professional Game Group (PGG) are also exploring options which involve non-televised games being streamed live online for members and supporters.

These scenarios will be worked on and continually assessed as the COVID-19 situation evolves. Learnings from the return-to-training programmes for England men’s players, in addition to international matches played behind closed doors throughout July, will also be incorporated.

The recreational game currently remains suspended until further notice, with the sole exception of regulated use of outdoor facilities (nets and pitches) for the purposes of undertaking exercise.

The ECB will seek to progress discussions with the UK Government to begin mapping out a return, including the potential for an earlier resumption of junior cricket.

“Naturally we want to see cricket being played at every level,” added ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison.

“We remain hopeful of seeing both domestic and recreational cricket this season, and planning with the PGG has allowed us to map a number of potential scenarios for domestic play.

“Whilst traditional formats of our competitions are the preference, we are not against exploring the unorthodox to ensure that we can return our players to the field.

“That can only happen though when it is safe, and we have said throughout this crisis that the safety and well-being of everyone involved in the game is our key priority.

“We have learned a lot and continue to learn about the safety protocols that would need to be in place to stage international cricket behind closed doors in this environment – and those protocols will also need to apply to the domestic game.

“Across the recreational game it has been heart-warming to hear of clubs where players have returned to the nets.

“As children start returning to school in the coming weeks, we look forward to exploring how those guidelines and learnings can be deployed for cricket.

“This can then see the recreational game continue its phased return as soon as we have government approval.”

Nottsccc