Middlesex to return to training on July 1 amid plans for August restart

This will happen initially on a part-time basis, with the players still furloughed outside of their scheduled training routines, but workloads will be increased ahead of plans for a domestic season beginning on August 1

Middlesex have become the latest county to announce their plans to return to training.

Their players will resume in early July, with fast bowlers starting on July 1 and the remainder of the playing staff subsequently returning on July 6.

This will happen initially on a part-time basis, with the players still furloughed outside of their scheduled training routines, but workloads will be increased ahead of plans for a domestic season beginning on August 1.

It was revealed on Wednesday that Middlesex would face Surrey in a two-day friendly at The Kia Oval on July 26 and July 27 as part of their preparation.

Training will take place at Radlett Cricket Club, with the county having ensured that the outground’s facilities meet the bio-secure requirements set out by the ECB and government.

Players will complete a Covid-19 education programme, as well as being checked daily for symptoms on arrival.

Angus Fraser, the club’s managing director of cricket, said: “The prospect of returning to training, let alone playing, is something everyone is looking forward to and over the course of the past two or three weeks it has begun to feel realer and realer.

“Middlesex, like all other counties, are waiting for confirmation from the ECB that cricket will start on 1 August. When that conformation is given all the planning that has taken place will suddenly kick into action.

“Training sessions for the players will, to begin with, feel different to any sessions they have had previously. Due to the government guidelines and the desire to give all players a fair chance time will be valuable, so players will need to be disciplined and make the most of every minute they have, which is not a bad mindset to get into.

“At the end of July, we intend to conduct practice matches amongst ourselves and then against local counties where we can travel to and from the venue each day.”

Elsewhere, Worcestershire have already returned to training, while Yorkshire’s players will start in a similar manner to Middlesex – returning on a part-time basis from June 29. The Cricketer understands that Somerset and Gloucestershire are also looking at July 1 as their date.

Durham’s bowlers have returned to action, while Warwickshire have not yet given a date but say they will be ready to return at short notice for an August 1 start. New Leicestershire chief executive Sean Jarvis has also confirmed that his club is in support of an August 1 restart. Surrey and Lancashire are the only two counties who never furloughed their players.

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