Southern Premier League club chairman writes to Boris Johnson urging him to avoid delivering ‘a mortal blow’ to recreational cricket

Clubs and leagues nationwide had been hoping to restart in early July, but last Monday the prime minister dashed those hopes.

In an announcement which shocked many involved in the sport, he declared a cricket ball a ‘natural vector for disease’ and insisted the game had to stay under lockdown.

Rob Wade, the chairman of five-times SPL winners South Wilts, has sent Johnson a 31-point list detailing the steps his club would take to ensure games were played in a covid-safe environment.

In his covering letter, he said: ‘I find it extraordinary that after 13 weeks of lockdown, the ECB have failed to persuade you that cricket is playable in this country with some sensible precautions and extra measures.

‘Quite apart from the fact that the current nationwide ban ignores any element of infection rates geographically or demographically, we find this surprising.

‘We are not blaming you or the scientists, but we do wonder what the ECB have been discussing with you. We have heard messages of 'adapted play' and received glossy graphics from the ECB, all dealing with reduced numbers and focussing on social distancing.

The ball has barely been an issue and so we listened in horror to it being described as a 'natural vector for disease'.

Wade continued: ‘An important factor to consider is the mental health of those in the country locked down for so long.

‘No doubt this is a contributing factor to the scale of riots and murders we have seen of late.

‘The cricketing experience is an important summer activity for players, officials, spectators and many other people involved with the elements of our great game.

‘I hope you will find the time to grant cricket a 'reprieve'. It seems incongruous that people can go to pubs but not play cricket - the most socially distanced sport there could be - note our boundaries are virtually in different postcodes!

‘There has been more danger in going to the shops during early lockdown than playing cricket: people constantly pick goods up and put them down again.

‘Please allow cricket clubs themselves to be practical, to put their own procedures in place and above all, as you said yourself, use common sense.

‘It is vital for clubs of all sizes that the great way of British life that is cricket is not dealt the mortal blow that any more unnecessary delay will serve.’

Among South Wilts’ 31 points are:

No more than five players in a changing rooms at any one time. When using changing rooms, players

stick to their dedicated area and maintain a 2m rule at all stages.

The use of showers is not advised. However if being used, no more than two people in the shower area at any time – maintaining a 2m distance.Players must provide their own refreshments.Drinks breaks will be taken but the players will leave the field and use their own water bottles, which

are clearly labelled.

All players and officials who are unable to get to the ground under their own steam will not be selected.Any outside area for players to watch the game will be sectioned off to prevent teams from encroachment.Any player or official who shows covid-19 symptoms during the game will be removed from the game.All players pushing the covers on or off will sanitise their hands immediately afterwards, and the same with sightscreens.All players, after touching the ball, will sanitise their hands.To avoid the risk of the ball carrying disease, the bowler will be allowed - and encouraged - to clean the ball with anti-bacterial wipes.The wicketkeeper will pass the ball directly back to the bowler in the air or on the floor.Sanitiser bottles will be positioned on the ground strategically – including behind the stumps at each end and in the irrigation box.Stumps and bails will be regularly wiped with sanitising wipes.Discussions between the batsmen should be restricted to between overs and at the fall of a wicket and will adhere to the guidelines.Umpires will be encouraged to wear a mask and, like the players, must carry anti-bacterial wipes.

Wade insists with these new rules in place cricket could stay as an 11-a-side sport.

‘The number of players could be reduced but we regard this as not an issue.’ he told Johnson.

‘Whether the team is 11, eight or even three, the areas of concern will always be the same – bowler, batsmen, wicketkeeper (plus umpire) and these have been covered by the other solutions.

‘Eleven players in a team is cricket and we should maintain the integrity of the game at all times.’

Wade - whose club won the SPL title four years running between 2012-2015 inclusive - is also convinced that games, when they are allowed, shouldn’t have to be restricted to 20 overs a side.

‘The number of overs could be reduced but we regard this as not an issue,’ he said. ‘If

there was a risk, it would have been exposed in the three hours of a T20 and, with the solutions we will have applied, playing for a longer period is not an issue.

‘Longer format cricket should be preserved for the future of the game.’