1) Please take care to follow the social distancing rules. We want to see you all fit and healthy as soon as we can start the season.

2) Competitions. All is in a state of flux at the moment as there are no clues as to when and if the season can begin.
Further, the East Anglian Premier League have decided that there will be no promotion or relegation for their 2020 season. Following a meeting of the Management Sub Committee by video conferencing, we are looking at three scenarios, all depending on Government guidance about what is possible when;

a) If cricket can commence in July. Starting a half season in July as close to the 4th July (the normal week when fixtures are reversed) as possible. This would mean each team in the current divisions playing each other
just once. Starting a week or two later than the 4th might still be ok although it is realised that some fixtures would need to be amended due to ground availability. Promotion and relegation would need to be looked at with options for;

     i) Normal ups and downs
     ii) No ups or downs. There will be no promotion/relegation as regards the EAPL.
     iii) Half season so half measures ie 1 up and 1 down throughout
     iv) 1 up and 1 down for Divisions 1 through to 5.

Of these options discussed, option iii) is preferred. There may have to be some adjustments needed to the previously published fixtures to allow for ground availability etc. Additional fixtures may also have to be played on Bank Holiday Monday in August and on Saturday 19th September.

b) If cricket can commence in August. No matches until August would leave insufficient time to complete a half season. Therefore a cup competition could be organised for small regionalised groups. This would need to take into account club strength thus avoid pairing a Div 1 team with a Div 9 team for example.

c) If cricket can commence in September. No matches possible until September would leave very little scope for an organised competition. The best suggestion would be for clubs to arrange friendlies or T20’s against local opposition.

IF and WHEN cricket is allowed to start, THERE MUST BE FIRM EMPHASIS GIVEN TO JUNIOR BOYS AND GIRLS CRICKET. There are considerable leisure alternatives for youngsters these days and it is feared we may lose many if contingencies are not made.

3) Club Finances. The ECB and Sport England have recognised that this current crisis will have a drastic effect upon
the financial health of our member clubs. There are emergency grants and or loans available to clubs to cover the normal financial outlay for maintaining the club. You can refer to the ECB or Sport England websites for details and wherever possible the Management Sub Committee will post the up to date information on the Two Counties website. Whilst a number of staff from both the County Boards have been furloughed, Graham Pryke (ECCB) and Rob Jones (SCCB) are still working and can offer assistance. In addition, if your club has to pay local rates or business rates, then please contact your local council as the government have made funds available to local councils for rate relief during this crisis.

4) Match Balls. With distribution being totally off the agenda for the foreseeable future, the full 2020 order has been
placed into secure storage. If matches are possible sometime this season then a distribution day/evening will be arranged with suitable given notice. A number of clubs have already paid for their balls this season for which the MSC are most appreciative. For those clubs who have yet to pay and assuming no cricket is possible, then payment will be requested by the end of September.

5) Handbooks. Due to the uncertainty, there will be no handbooks printed this year. If we are able to get any matches organised then sufficient information, ie rules, contacts etc will be made available either by email or downloading from the Two Counties website.

6) Indoor Cricket Leagues/Net Practice. It is expected that if there is only limited or even no cricket this summer then there will be a greater demand for the use of indoor facilities over the close season. Colchester’s Northern gateway facility has fallen victim to this current crisis and will not now be open in August as planned.

7) On going. The MSC will endeavour to provide all our member clubs with any important news either by email or
messages on the website. With the aid of video conferencing, the MSC have scheduled a further meeting for Saturday 2nd May by which time, there will hopefully be better news for us all.