Chief Medical Officer Chris Witty says it is "very safe" for cricket to return, provided protocols are kept
Sunday 5 July 2020 12:15, UK
Boris Johnson has confirmed recreational cricket can return in time for next weekend, following calls for a U-turn on the government's tough stance on the sport.
The Prime Minister previously described the cricket ball as a "vector of disease" and said on radio station LBC on Friday dangers were even more widespread due to communal teas and dressing rooms.
But speaking in a coronavirus press briefing on Friday afternoon, Johnson said: "I sought scientific advice and medical opinions, the third umpire has been invoked.
"What I can say is that we do want to work as fast as possible to get cricket back, and we will be publishing guidelines in the next few days so that cricket can resume in time for next weekend."
Chief Medical Officer Chris Witty said it was "very safe" for cricket to return, provided participants do not hug the bowler, do not spit on the ball and do not meet indoors afterwards.
The ECB welcomed the decision, writing in a statement: "We are delighted that the UK Government have given their permission for recreational cricket to return from next weekend.
"We will shortly be publishing our approved guidelines to help clubs and players prepare for cricket's return."
It should be possible to make the game itself really very safe as an outdoor sport at a distance, it's not a contact sport in the sense that some of high-risk outdoor sports are.
Prof Whitty said one of the issues with cricket is that it brings together "a much larger number of people in terms of linking households" than is allowed in guidelines.
He added: "It is perfectly possible to have cricket where people do keep their distance, and provided people don't do things that are clearly not sensible, ranging from hugging the bowler if they just bowled someone for a duck through to spitting on the ball.
"It should be possible to make the game itself really very safe as an outdoor sport at a distance, it's not a contact sport in the sense that some of high-risk outdoor sports are."
He said there were risks with people going into a crowded space such as a pavilion to have a tea or a beer.
"This comes onto the pub issue," he said.
"The biggest risks are when lots of people from lots of different households are brought together in close proximity indoors, and whether that's in a pub or cricket pavilion that is a high-risk activity."
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, said: "We have had a responsibility throughout this period of time to work with the UK Government and to plan alongside the cricket network to try and mitigate COVID-19's impact on the 2020 season.
"We have maintained a constant dialogue with UK Government and they've been supportive of our desire to see recreational cricket return when it is safe. They now agree that with appropriate measures in place to mitigate the risk, it is safe.
"We know how difficult it has been for everyone to go without cricket this summer, and we thank you for your patience. As the nation's summer sport we believe we have a role to play in getting people active across the country, especially young people, and it is heartening to know that club cricket - albeit with social distancing in place and some other adaptations - will soon be back across England."
