Cricket officials in talks with state as they plan a road map to start the season
What does the State Government’s road map from lockdown mean for cricket? Officials are working through various issues as they plot a path towards starting dates for metropolitan and country associations.
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Cricket Victoria is seeking information from state sporting and health authorities as it tries to devise a roadmap back to training and playing.
Officials are linking with Sport and Recreation Victoria and VicSport this afternoon as they attempt to clarify issues raised in the State Government’s plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions.
Cricket across Victoria normally starts in the first week of October but administrators are resigned to it being pushed back for weeks.
Matches in country areas are likely to begin first.
The state’s pinnacle competition, Premier Cricket, has released a plan that carries seven options to start the season, each requiring a five-week lead-in for players.
The first option – October 24 with a cut-off date of September 10 – is officially out of play and the second – November 7 with a cut-off date of September 24 – will be discussed at next week’s meeting of Premier presidents.
The third option of a November 21 start has an October 8 cut-off and the fourth of December 5 has an October 29 cut-off.
Local competitions in the metropolitan area will require a shorter lead-in for players and are expected to start before Premier.
The government said yesterday that outdoor non-contact sport could resume on October 26.
From September 28 outdoor personal training with “up two people per trainer’’ is allowed. CV will ask if a cricket coach can be classed as a “personal trainer’’.
CV has also sought information from Sport and Recreation Victoria around turf wicket preparation.
Cricket Victoria competitions manager Darren Anderson said CV was working on a “position paper’’ and hoped it have it out by the end of the week.
“We’ll develop our own roadmap, for regional and metro cricket, and potentially juniors and seniors and then Premier, where we do need that extra time to prepare,’’ he said.
“Other associations have said they’ll only need three weeks or so.’’
As part of a return-to-play plan, Cricket Australian has released guidelines for competitions to make cricket safer during COVID-19.
CA suggests players should “get in, train and play, and get out’’.
They should shower at home before they arrive at the ground and again when they return, and should “not stay around to socialise’’.
Other measures include players:
* not sharing products or equipment including drinks, towels, lip balm, sunscreen, chewing gum, lollies, helmets, cricket bats, gloves and pads.
* making no physical contact, including hand shakes and high-fives to greet or congratulate others.
* maintaining a distance where possible of 1.5m and not forming team huddles.
On the ground play should be stopped every 40 minutes so the ball can be cleaned with an antimicrobial wipe. At the same time all players and umpires on the field should clean their hands with a suitable sanitiser.
This routine should also be followed at the start of any drinks break, the fall of a wicket, the close of an innings or any other breaks in the game.
Meanwhile with a lot of one-day cricket set to feature on fixtures, Kookaburra is concerned it may not be able to keep up with demand for white balls.
Competitions are being urged to use red balls in the short formats.