THE Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League have reluctantly cancelled the 2020 season for all League divisions and usual cup competitions.
The Mining Division Evening League has also been cancelled.
The halfway mark of the season has been reached and the ECB still awaits permission from the Government to permit the playing of Step 4 ‘Adapted Cricket’, let alone Step 5 ‘Unrestricted Cricket’ in their Roadmap for a return to Recreational Cricket.
League chairman Mark Mitchell said: ’It has been a frustrating week, but we have now reached a point from where we can make some decisions.
’Wednesday’s ECB Premier Leagues’ Zoom call was cancelled, and yesterday’s update from ECB began: "Following the submission of our revised guidance to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport at the start of the week, we are waiting for UK Government approval before we can provide any further update on the return of play for recreational cricket. We will be in contact as soon as we have an update to share".
’Separately, you may also have seen the extremely detailed and restrictive document regarding opening your clubhouses: it makes rather grim reading!
’What all of this points to is that there is no real virtue in stringing everyone along in the hope of being able to play even a full half of the League season, not least because many clubs would not be able to play after September 12: indeed, some not at all.
’We cannot proceed with the League divisions, with or without promotion and relegation, with some clubs unable to take part, through no fault of their own.
’Accordingly, the League Divisions for 2020 are cancelled and will begin again in 2021 exactly as they should have this season - except for any withdrawals or new applications.
’Alongside this, all cup competitions are now cancelled for similar reasons, as the opportunities to play these matches are in even shorter supply.
’The same applies to the Mining Division Evening League. Sadly, it now seems virtually certain that proper, restriction-free, 11-a-side cricket will not now be played at all in 2020.
’The position regarding whatever cricket can be played remains the same as it did last week.
’According to the results of our survey, many clubs would like us to arrange something, depending on what time is available when permission to play is granted.
’Clubs would also be allowed to organise their own fixtures instead, as several have indicated that they would prefer to do this.
’To give us time to formulate groups and matches, clubs would also be given the ’go-ahead’ to use the first week or two to play any "warm-up" games they can arrange.’
• Last week ECB announced the cancellation of many National Competitions including the Royal London Club Championship, Vitality Men’s Club T20 Cup & Plate, Vitality Women’s Club T20 Cup & Plate, Over 50’s & 60’s National competitions and the various age group (14-18) programmes.
• The National Counties Cricket Association three-day Championship games are also cancelled. Cornwall were due to travel to Wales and Shropshire and host Devon and Herefordshire.
• The NCCA T20 and 50 over competitions currently remain ‘postponed’, with ongoing discussions as to whether some games can be played later in the season.