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YCCC
Yorkshire will take on Lancashire in a two-day red ball friendly at Emerald Headingley on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July.
The Roses match will have multi-camera streamed coverage exclusive to Yorkshire’s qualified Members and Lancashire Members. Further information on how Members will be able to watch the coverage will be sent in due course.
Mark Arthur, The Yorkshire County Cricket Club Chief Executive said: “We are thrilled to have been able to arrange this fixture with Lancashire.
“Although the match will be played behind-closed-doors, both clubs are keen that its members have access to fantastic coverage of the match as a thank you for their loyalty during these difficult times.”
Counties cook up ‘pub’ plan to get fans back.
Elizabeth Ammon.
The Times.
Tuesday, 23 June 2020.
PTG 3170-15691.
A number of counties want to exploit new lockdown guidelines by classifying themselves as pubs with outside spaces to allow spectators into their grounds. UK government ministers are hoping to push through proposals to reopen the hospitality sector on Saturday week, with social-distancing restrictions in place. Should that happen, the counties would explore the possibility of opening their bars on match-days and even non-match-days to bring in much-needed revenue with about 250 people allowed in the ground.
County cricket is set to return behind closed doors on August 1 and players are now being taken off furlough and returning to training in preparation for that start date. It is unlikely that counties will be able to sell tickets for matches in August but could find a loophole in the guidance for pubs and bars that would allow them to operate as bars with “gardens” and allow people to drink in their grounds which would, at least, give them bar takings as income even though they can’t get any ticket revenue.
There is a general feeling that cricket has been slow to react in getting back to action and that it will look and feel very odd when pub gardens are re-open but people are still not allowed to sit, socially distanced, outside to watch cricket.
Equally, one county executive said “It would be very odd if I can open my bars with people drinking outside on non-match days but then have to close them again on a match day. It must be possible to find a way to allow a very small number of people into the ground which complies with government guidelines for other hospitality sectors”.
County chairmen will vote later this month on what exactly the resumption will look like. The majority of counties want first class cricket to be played throughout August followed by a T20 ‘Blast' competition in September and half of October by which time, it is hoped, they will be allowed some paying spectators will be allowed in the ground, even if it is only 20-25 per cent of their ground capacity.
Some however, believe it would be safer and logistically simpler not to play first-class cricket and resume with a 50 over one day competition which would reduce the need for overnight stays in hotels. It is expected that the majority of county chairmen will vote to play first class cricket but those who vote against could be given the option not to play and to have an informal 50 over competition amongst themselves instead.
Sorry You're barred!
A number of counties want to exploit new lockdown guidelines by classifying themselves as pubs with outside spaces to allow spectators into their grounds. UK government ministers are hoping to push through proposals to reopen the hospitality sector on Saturday week, with social-distancing restrictions in place. Should that happen, the counties would explore the possibility of opening their bars on match-days and even non-match-days to bring in much-needed revenue with about 250 people allowed in the ground.
County cricket is set to return behind closed doors on August 1 and players are now being taken off furlough and returning to training in preparation for that start date. It is unlikely that counties will be able to sell tickets for matches in August but could find a loophole in the guidance for pubs and bars that would allow them to operate as bars with “gardens” and allow people to drink in their grounds which would, at least, give them bar takings as income even though they can’t get any ticket revenue.
There is a general feeling that cricket has been slow to react in getting back to action and that it will look and feel very odd when pub gardens are re-open but people are still not allowed to sit, socially distanced, outside to watch cricket.
Equally, one county executive said “It would be very odd if I can open my bars with people drinking outside on non-match days but then have to close them again on a match day. It must be possible to find a way to allow a very small number of people into the ground which complies with government guidelines for other hospitality sectors”.
County chairmen will vote later this month on what exactly the resumption will look like. The majority of counties want first class cricket to be played throughout August followed by a T20 ‘Blast' competition in September and half of October by which time, it is hoped, they will be allowed some paying spectators will be allowed in the ground, even if it is only 20-25 per cent of their ground capacity.
Some however, believe it would be safer and logistically simpler not to play first-class cricket and resume with a 50 over one day competition which would reduce the need for overnight stays in hotels. It is expected that the majority of county chairmen will vote to play first class cricket but those who vote against could be given the option not to play and to have an informal 50 over competition amongst themselves instead.
Sorry You're barred!
Surrey have confirmed plans to play Middlesex in a behind-closed-doors friendly next month.
The Oval will host a two-day red-ball fixture on 26 and 27 July, which will be streamed live online.
County cricket is postponed until at least 1 August because of coronavirus, but England will start a Test series against West Indies on 8 July.
Surrey hope the friendly will come before “competitive cricket returning the following weekend”.
They and Lancashire were the only two among 18 first-class counties who chose not to furlough players amid the pandemic.
The announcement indicates Middlesex will start to bring their players off the government job retention scheme soon, while a number of other counties have also resumed training in small groups.
Surrey will be streaming the match using multiple cameras on both their Facebook page and The Oval website.
Playing a regionalised four-day competition plus the T20 Blast is one of the possible options being considered for when the domestic season can be allowed to start.
Club cricket has 'very low risks' - ECB
But the government confirmed on Tuesday that recreational club cricket cannot resume yet until ways to make the game more secure are approved, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying that "the ball is a natural vector of disease".
In reply, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Wednesday: "We believe that cricket is a non-contact sport, with very low risks of exposure, and that it can be played as safely as many other activities being currently permitted.
"It is our strong desire to work with Government to see the return of recreational cricket on or around 4 July, as they continue to lift other restrictions more broadly across society."
The statement added: "We can confirm that any guidance we share with the game will include directions on how to mitigate any risk from handling the ball as we continue to prioritise the health and safety of the cricket family in all our decision-making.''
This sounds a workable compromise, and I think without puttung people at risk
ReplyDeleteThat last bit if we all act responsibly. Clearly a club has the right to evict anyone, member or not, who does not.
I really think behind closed doors play will be deeply resented by members
If course we would act in a calm and sensible way, but boy it will influence future spending decision by members.
May well drop in for a pint on days when no matches if the bar is opened by the club, personally will stick to 2 metre rule . Can have a chat from 2 metres, I have a something of a loud voice !
ReplyDeleteSurrey have confirmed plans to play Middlesex in a behind-closed-doors friendly next month.
ReplyDeleteThe Oval will host a two-day red-ball fixture on 26 and 27 July, which will be streamed live online.
County cricket is postponed until at least 1 August because of coronavirus, but England will start a Test series against West Indies on 8 July.
Surrey hope the friendly will come before “competitive cricket returning the following weekend”.
They and Lancashire were the only two among 18 first-class counties who chose not to furlough players amid the pandemic.
The announcement indicates Middlesex will start to bring their players off the government job retention scheme soon, while a number of other counties have also resumed training in small groups.
Surrey will be streaming the match using multiple cameras on both their Facebook page and The Oval website.
Playing a regionalised four-day competition plus the T20 Blast is one of the possible options being considered for when the domestic season can be allowed to start.
Club cricket has 'very low risks' - ECB
But the government confirmed on Tuesday that recreational club cricket cannot resume yet until ways to make the game more secure are approved, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying that "the ball is a natural vector of disease".
In reply, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Wednesday: "We believe that cricket is a non-contact sport, with very low risks of exposure, and that it can be played as safely as many other activities being currently permitted.
"It is our strong desire to work with Government to see the return of recreational cricket on or around 4 July, as they continue to lift other restrictions more broadly across society."
The statement added: "We can confirm that any guidance we share with the game will include directions on how to mitigate any risk from handling the ball as we continue to prioritise the health and safety of the cricket family in all our decision-making.''
Funnily enough, I'm rather hot typing this. Does "Thank you for their loyalty" really mean in the club's PR terms we really want to take your membership fees off you this year and offer you very little in return ?
Delete