ECB proposing coronavirus testing units at venues in desperate effort to kick-start English season

Director of events Steve Elworthy, who oversaw last year's World Cup, says the governing body are considering how to stage downscaled events when the outbreak relents

• Anderson wants training window before season starts
• England players staying active

The England and Wales Cricket Board are looking into stationing coronavirus testing units outside venues staging major events this summer in an effort to ensure the campaign can begin.

Professional cricket has already been delayed until at least May 28, however, the governing body are putting together schedules based on the campaign starting in July, August or September in anticipation of restrictions over gatherings being eased.

England's fixtures, the T20 Blast and The Hundred will be prioritised in 2020, with the other formats playing second-fiddle. The ECB believe they could stage games if they limit the number of people at a single venue to 500 and are closed to supporters.

But ensuring those individuals do not spread the virus is among the major challenges, though Elworthy says a process whereby everyone working on a single game is tested before entering the ground is being considered.

“We’re mapping out what international matches would look like behind closed doors,” Elworthy, who ran last year's World Cup for the ICC, told The Guardian.

“The advice around mass gatherings [before the current period of lockdown] was 500 people or fewer. 

"That was guided by the potential impact on critical services like paramedics and doctors.

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“You would likely have to work within that number, which includes teams, match officials, support staff, broadcasters and media, commercial partners, safety and security teams, third-party suppliers, replay screen operators, [the teams that control] the LED boards, ground staff, catering and more.

“Then you have to think about medical provisions, creating a safe and sterile environment around that venue, so that everyone who comes in is clear. 

"So it’s how you test them at the gate, the isolation units that you have to put in. These are all the considerations we are thinking about.”

Though playing matches behind closed doors would help the ECB fulfil the terms of their bumper broadcast contract worth £1.1 billion between 2020-24, it remains to be seen how it would be viewed by the wider cricketing fraternity.

England's all-time Test wicket-taker James Anderson appears to be resistant to the idea of playing matches without fans.

The Lancashire seamer said: “If and when we do play cricket again, surely it’s got to be with crowds watching?”