Teas, toilets and travel – Hampshire Cricket League to quiz clubs regarding possible resumption of the sport in August

One of the largest recreational cricket leagues in England is to survey all clubs in the coming weeks to ask if they would be ready to resume playing at the start of August.
A traditional scene from summers past - the preparing of a cricket tea. Such a scene is unlikely to be seen this summer. Pic: Malcolm Wells.A traditional scene from summers past - the preparing of a cricket tea. Such a scene is unlikely to be seen this summer. Pic: Malcolm Wells.
A traditional scene from summers past - the preparing of a cricket tea. Such a scene is unlikely to be seen this summer. Pic: Malcolm Wells.

The 152 clubs who compete in the Hampshire Cricket League – who between them have 299 teams - will be asked questions about the state of their pitch, toilet facilities, teas, travel and social distancing.

The questionnaire will be based around a similar one previously sent out to their clubs by the Sussex League and the Surrey League.

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The Hampshire League have already cancelled the league for the first time in its 48-year history after the ECB again pushed back the earliest date the sport can return to August 1. It had previously been July 1.

Hayling bowler Mike Hallett appeals for a wicket during a Hampshire Cricket League game. Will similar scenes be seen in recreational cricket in 2020? Picture: Mick YoungHayling bowler Mike Hallett appeals for a wicket during a Hampshire Cricket League game. Will similar scenes be seen in recreational cricket in 2020? Picture: Mick Young
Hayling bowler Mike Hallett appeals for a wicket during a Hampshire Cricket League game. Will similar scenes be seen in recreational cricket in 2020? Picture: Mick Young

The HCL had declared they would only play competitive league games if their season could start on Saturday July 4 and no later.

As of today, and even though sports such as golf and tennis have been allowed for almost a fortnight, it will be another eight weeks at least before cricket games resume - not including England internationals in a bio-secure environment such as Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl or Lancashire’s Old Trafford which could begin in early July.

Even if cricket does begin on August 1, that leaves just five Saturdays in the month - the first is a Saturday - on which friendlies could be played on the basis of the HCL fixtures already planned for those dates.

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‘We’re going to be sending a survey out to our clubs asking if they could be ready to play on August 1 if recreational cricket is allowed to start then,’ said HCL chairman Denis Emery.

‘But there’s so many guidelines - you can’t use the pavilions, no teas, umpires have got to wear gloves … that’s not cricket. It’s not worth it.

‘I feel sorry for the clubs, but there’s nothing much we can do.

‘Some clubs aren’t going to want to play, but some will - I’ve already been contacted by clubs who have been asking for advice on getting their grounds ready.

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‘But some won’t be in a position to play on August 1 because they play on council pitches, and the council haven’t been doing any work on them.’

Emery added: ‘It’s frustrating. I can’t see there being any cricket this year, even in August. There’s too many things to take into account unfortunately.’

The HCL questionnaire is likely to include the following questions, all of which were asked of Sussex and Surrey League clubs (start date has been changed).

1 Do you believe that your ground / wicket will be playable for a 1st August start? If no, please provide details of the issues you think you will face and we will try to help.

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It is unfortunately a fact that many clubs have to give their grounds over to football in September and therefore we cannot simply extend the season for the whole league. However, this may be an option at the very top, where clubs will have control over their own grounds. If you are in a top division, please advise whether you think playing until the end of September would work for you.

2 Do you foresee any problems concerning player / umpire / scorer engagement when we return to cricket? This includes those that may still be isolating due to coronavirus.

3 Do you think you are able to set up the ground whilst adhering to social distancing.

4 Will toilets be available during games? (People travelling to the beach are going to the toilet anywhere at the moment, which is a cross-infection hazard in itself).

5 Can travel to away games be arranged without car shares?

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6 Can everyone arrange to bring their own teas? (the league does not think with the poor washing up hygiene at clubs the traditional cricket teas can take place this summer. However, the league is suggesting toilets and handwashing facilities need to be made available).

7 Are you able to provide liquid soap and paper towels (no shared hand towels) in toilets and ensure players and umpires wash their hands before a game, after a game and before eating any food throughout the game?

8 Can you guarantee supporters will adhere to the same?

Emery is a man who wears numerous hats, as he is also the appointments secretary for the south coast panel of umpires and the registration secretary for the Wessex Football League.

‘A lot of my umpires are in their 70s - some have diabetes - and some will be frightened to umpire,’ he stated. ‘Will they want to take the risk?

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‘At the moment I’d say 30 umpires wouldn’t want to stand, and unless they conquer the virus they won’t want to do it next year either.

‘This could kill sport at our level. I just hope and pray all the clubs pull through.

‘Our numbers were actually up this year - we had 300 teams and a few more looking to join. That could be kyboshed now.’

In addition to appointing umpires to weekend league games, Emery also appoints them to public schools in Hampshire such as Portsmouth Grammar School and King Edward in Southampton.

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‘It’s not that lucrative, but it’s very enjoyable to umpire,’ said Emery.

‘I’ve travelled down from Romsey before to umpire Portsmouth Grammar School - it’s brilliant down there.

‘I’m not sure the schools will want to take any risks and play - the under-11s and under-10s have cancelled already.

‘If we can get any games this year, great. There could be some friendlies at the Hampshire Hogs, near Petersfield, in September. If they want umpires, they will have them.’

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The pandemic has obviously created cashflow issues for many sports clubs, and cricket clubs - with pavilion insurance and utility bills still to pay, as well as pitch maintenance in some cases - are certainly not exempt from that.

‘We asked our clubs three weeks ago if they had any problems with cashflow to let us know,’ said Emery.

‘We could get a loan from the ECB, though we would have to pay it back. But nobody has come back to us.’

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The six teams based on the Isle of Wight - from the Ryde, Ventnor and Shanklin & Godshill clubs - have agreed to take part in their own tournament if grassroots cricket can restart in August.

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The question that begs is could it lead to the creation of an Isle of Wight League featuring those clubs and others?

Northwood CC have applied to join the Hampshire League more than once recently, but have been turned down to the costs involved in travelling to the island.

‘It costs about £350 for a team to travel there,’ said Emery. ‘Sarisbury have five teams and two years ago they made four or five trips to the island - it cost them a fortune.’