Pre-season county friendlies among pilot events for return of spectators to sporting venues

The two-day game beginning on July 26 between Surrey and Middlesex at the Kia Oval is expected to be one of two cricket matches lined up

Pre-season county friendlies will be among pilot events used to stress-test new government guidance for the return of spectators to sporting venues.

The two-day game beginning on July 26 between Surrey and Middlesex at the Kia Oval is expected to be one of two cricket matches lined up, along with the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre and the Glorious Goodwood horseracing festival.

Further pilot events are then likely to take place over the coming months, with sporting events set to allow fans to return from October 1 with social distancing restrictions in place – if it is deemed safe to do so. Sporting venues have been closed to spectators since lockdown measures were implemented on March 23, though Test cricket has since returned behind closed doors.

“We will pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadiums with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn,” said prime minister Boris Johnson on Friday.

The move gives the government the opportunity to test its ‘stage five’ guidance, on the return of fans to elite sports events. This includes spectators being provided with information on the steps being taken to minimise coronavirus risks at the venue.

The guidance has been developed with UK Sport and in close consultation with the Deputy Chief Medical Officers of England, Public Health England, the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, Police and medical representatives across Olympic, Paralympic and professional sports governing bodies.

An ECB spokesperson said: “From the outset of this crisis, we’ve worked in partnership with the UK government on the safe return of cricket, both at professional and recreational levels.

“The return of fans to stadia is the next step and we are pleased that this announcement allows cricket to be among the first pilot events. There is now a significant amount of work to carry out ahead of these pilots, and we will continue to work closely with the government to assess what additional planning and safety measures are needed for supporters to be able to return safely to cricket grounds.”

Pre-season county friendlies: fixture list

Sports minister Nigel Huddleston said: “For months millions of us have felt the void of being unable to go to the match to support our team or attend a top-class sporting event. So I am pleased that we are now able to move forward with a plan to help venues safely reopen their doors to fans.

“I recognise that not every sport, team or club has the benefit of huge commercial revenue, and it is often their dedicated fans that are the lifeblood which helps keep them going. By working closely with sports and medical experts, these pilots will help ensure the safe return of fans to stadia.

“Although it will remain some time before venues are full to capacity, this is a major step in the right direction for the resumption of live spectator sport across the country.”

Spectators must also agree to a code, obliging them to take responsibility by not attending if they have symptoms or have been exposed to someone else with symptoms.

Booking processes will also be carefully controlled, so that social distancing can be maintained, and a crowd management plan will be in place to control the entry and exit of spectators, while there will be additional hygiene facilities on site.

Last week, infectious disease expert and SAGE member Sir Jeremy Farrar told The Cricketer: “July and August are going to be critical months for this. We’ve seen the lifting of restrictions, we all saw what happened over the weekend at pubs and previously at beaches. We could well see an increase in the number of infections in July and August.

“Then decisions about opening up sporting venues would have to be taken in light of the information available. If things stayed as they are today, I think that in September it would be possible to open sports grounds, with maybe 10 per cent or 15 per cent of capacity. 

“It all depends on what’s happening to transition in August and the beginning of September for that to be true. If it was today, I think it would be possible.”

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