ECB Cancel Derbyshire Vitality T20 Blast Fixtures

 

Derbyshire statement:

Derbyshire’s Vitality Blast fixtures away to Northants Steelbacks (16 July) and at home to Yorkshire Vikings (18 July) have been cancelled by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Following Monday’s announcement that an unnamed member of the Derbyshire playing squad had tested positive for COVID-19 in a lateral flow test, the Club can now confirm the subsequent PCR test has returned the same result.

As such, 14 members of the Vitality Blast squad which travelled to Durham on Friday 9 July will observe a ten-day self-isolation period, having been deemed to be close contacts. At this stage, no other member of the playing or coaching staff regarded as a close contact has returned a positive result or displayed symptoms of COVID-19.

A further six Derbyshire players remain side-lined through injury and due to the unavailability of 20 squad members, the ECB has determined that Derbyshire is unable to field a team of a strength appropriate to maintain the integrity of the two remaining group matches and of the competition as a whole.

Under Playing Condition 16.11.4.5 The North Group will, therefore, be decided on an average points per completed match basis.

The ECB has also confirmed the points allocation from the abandoned LV= Insurance County Championship match between Derbyshire and Essex.

The match is treated as a draw and in accordance with Playing Condition 16.2.3, both teams have been awarded eight points for a draw plus the bonus points they had accrued before the match was abandoned; Essex (11), Derbyshire (9).

Tickets purchased for the Yorkshire Vikings fixture will be refunded and spectators do not need to contact the Club for refunds to be actioned. This includes 2020 buyers who deferred their tickets to 2021, as a full refund of your original purchase will be issued.

Derbyshire’s National County 50-over fixture versus Shropshire, scheduled to take place on Tuesday 20 July at The Incora County Ground has also been cancelled.

Chief Executive, Ryan Duckett, said: “This demonstrates how easily the knock-on effects from an isolated case can impact a squad and it is unfortunate that, in the one instance in which the Club has used a coach to travel to an away fixture, the regular testing returns a positive result and all 14 players on the coach are required to self-isolate.

“It is a disappointing situation for Members and supporters, but safety on and off the field must always come first and I’m grateful for the understanding shown by all of the counties involved, as well as the ECB and the public health team at Derby City Council for their continued guidance.

“The Club’s Medical Staff will remain in close contact with all those players who are self-isolating and I would once again like to thank everyone involved in maintaining the safety of players, staff and spectators at Derbyshire.”

Covid turns county fixtures into ‘a lottery’
Elizabeth Ammon.
The Times.
Tuesday, 13 July 2021.
PTG 3572-17654.


County executives are becoming increasingly concerned that domestic competitions will not be completed fairly because of the rising number of players testing positive for Covid-19 or having to isolate. Derbyshire’s County Championship match against Essex had to be abandoned on Monday because of just such an issue (PTG 3571-17649, 12 July 2021), while Kent also had to name an entirely new squad at short notice ahead of their Championship game against Sussex on Sunday (PTG 3571- 17650, 12 July 2021).

After juggling their playing squad pre-match, on Monday Kent then had to make an in-match substitution after one of the players in the new squad, Nathan Gilchrist — who had taken two wickets on the first day — was “pinged” by the UK’s track and traceapp. In such a situation, those pinged, such as Gilchrist, are required under present UK regulations to isolate for ten days. Given that players share dressing rooms and dining areas during matches, even if they are confined to their rooms in the evenings any positive case will send the whole squad and support staff into quarantine. It means that counties are having to play second XI and academy players.

The risk of players either contracting the virus or having to isolate has led the England and Wales Cricket Board (EWCB) to make changes to the Playing Conditions for The Hundred, which begins next Wednesday. Each of the eight teams in the new franchise tournament will only have a playing squad of 15 and there is a concern that should one player contract the virus, the whole squad would be forced to isolate for ten days.

The EWCB acknowledges that, unlike the established counties, it is unlikely that the new city-based teams would be able to bring in a whole squad of replacement players, so if any fixture has to be cancelled for Covid reasons, the entire league would revert to a “points per match completed” system, similar to that used by the International Cricket Council for the recent World Test Championship. The EWCB is also set to tighten the rules for players in The Hundred by insisting that they undergo daily tests and advising them to avoid public places, such as bars and restaurants, as much as possible during the five-week competition. Their travel arrangements for matches will also be altered, so that the players will mostly be travelling between venues in their own cars rather than on team coaches.

The situation is likely to get even worse for the counties when the EWCB's One-Day Cup begins a week on Thursday. Most counties have already been stripped of a number of their first-team players who have contracts to play in The Hundred. For example, Surrey have lost 12 players to the Hundred and Sussex have lost 11. Further instances of the whole squad having to isolate until the UK government amends the rules on August 16 would create the risk of some counties being unable to field a team from their already depleted squads. One county chairman said: “The situation is getting ridiculous. We are now at risk of compromising the integrity of all the domestic competitions. It’s just a lottery”.

Game between Derbyshire and Essex Abandoned

Derbyshire CCC Statement




Following a lateral flow test on Sunday evening, conducted as part of the Club’s regular programme of self-testing, Derbyshire can confirm that one unnamed member of the playing staff has tested positive for COVID-19.

The player has immediately begun self-isolating while awaiting the result of a PCR test. As the playing squad involved in the LV= County Championship fixture against Essex at The Incora County Ground, as well as the Vitality Blast squad which travelled to Durham on Friday, could likely be considered close contacts, they too will immediately self-isolate pending the PCR test result.

Due to the isolation protocols and impact on the available playing squad, the decision has been made in conjunction with Public Health England (PHE) and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to abandon the fixture, with the awarding of points to be confirmed in due course.

The Club remains in close contact with PHE and the ECB and will communicate further detail regarding upcoming fixtures pending additional guidance.

Tickets purchased for the remaining days of the Essex fixture will be refunded and spectators do not need to contact the Club for refunds to be actioned.

Chief Executive, Ryan Duckett, said: “As a Club, we have operated a robust testing regime among all staff throughout the return to cricket and have clear safety regulations in place for supporters.

“This isolated incident highlights the fact that sport is not exempt from the pandemic, and I’d like to thank the Club’s medical and venue staff, as well as Public Health Derby and the ECB for their immediate response in safely handling the matter.

“It is of course a great disappointment to see the abandonment of a fixture, but the safety of all players, staff and supporters must always come first and the Club is grateful for the understanding of supporters.”

As a knock-on effect...

Trent Bridge.co.uk

Derbyshire's Second XI one-day friendly versus Nottinghamshire, originally scheduled to take place Tuesday 13th June, has been cancelled.
 
The 50-over fixture, which would have been played behind closed doors due to covid-safety protocols, has been called-off by the host county, with Nottinghamshire's agreement.

The fixture against Lancashire scheduled for Friday 16th June in Liverpool is expected to take place, as planned, behind closed doors.