BBC report. The world has come to a standstill after Coronavirus broke out in March soon after the completion of the T20 World Cup held in Australia.
While the ODI and T20I home
series against India was postponed earlier, England’s fixtures against South Africa for September remain on the calendar. Discussions between both boards over the status of those fixtures are ongoing. It is also understood that in all of its communication about the state of the 2020 schedule, the ECB has
stressed its commitment to staging some women’s cricket.
ALSO READ: It would be foolish to neglect women’s cricket at a time like this - Sam LaveryWith the bio-secure planning the ECB has gone for in the men’s game, the same will be implemented for women too, but Director of Cricket Clare Connor said she is ‘realistic’ in giving precedence to men’s fixtures because of the greater financial rewards they bring.
With the inaugural season of The Hundred already
postponed, the ECB has informed that it is in talks with the 18 first-class counties about how they can return to training. The governing body has also said it will attempt to hold both first-class and limited-overs competitions this summer, yet any domestic cricket will only take place if it is safe and financially viable.
Logistically, it would be very difficult to apply bio-secure criteria to county matches, while pressure on finances will have been alleviated to some degree by the government’s decision to extend the furlough scheme until October.