The England and Wales Cricket Board has pushed the season further back with a new proposed start date of July 1, although any decision about the postponement of The Hundred will be made next week.
An initial decision was taken to delay the campaign until May 28 but the ongoing coronavirus pandemic led to further action being taken following a board meeting held via conference call on Thursday.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the latest developments and what might happen next:
What decisions have been made?
No professional cricket will be played in England and Wales until at least 1 July due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
— England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) April 24, 2020
England's three-Test series against the West Indies, scheduled for June, has been postponed with the ECB now looking at rearranging its international summer for both men and women from July until the end of September. The number of County Championship fixtures lost to the crisis has gone from seven to nine although the ECB has not mothballed the competition entirely this year and will plot a way forward under a revised schedule featuring blocks for red-ball and white-ball cricket. The Vitality Blast has been given priority among domestic competitions and will be allowed the latest possible slot in the calendar to give it the best chance of taking place.
What about The Hundred?
The ECB was expected to confirm the postponement of the inaugural edition of The Hundred, featuring eight newly-formed domestic teams, but a request was made to debate the matter further at a special board meeting next Wednesday. It seems increasingly remote that the flagship 100-ball competition which has divided critics and cricket fans alike can take place in a truncated calendar, not least because most if not all of the overseas imports are unlikely to be available given the sensitivity of global travel in the current climate.
Is there a prospect of further delays?
Yes. The ECB continues to liaise with the government and health experts and has stressed that its top priority is the public safety and health and wellbeing of players, operational staff and cricket fans. Like many sporting events around the world, the ECB is reacting to the ongoing situation and chief executive Tom Harrison sent a stark warning on Friday, saying: "There will be no cricket unless it's safe to play. Our schedule will only go ahead if government guidance permits."
Could cricket be played behind closed doors this summer?
Absolutely, and this seems the likeliest route the ECB will reluctantly take if any cricket can take place this summer. English attendances are the envy of the cricketing world and Test captain Joe Root has already spoken about the wrench he would feel if fans were kept away, but needs must. If games can safely take place in a sterile environment, they would surely do so. With so much sport canned in the coming months, the sight of elite athletes competing would be welcome in television and radio schedules and help ease the coming fixture crush.
What about the World Test Championship?
After years of deliberation, the International Cricket Council finally pulled the trigger on a codified tournament for the most prestigious format. The first final is due to be played at Lord's in June 2021, but the prospect of completing all scheduled series in time seems a stretch. Behind the scenes the ICC is currently engaged in contingency planning, but with no real time pressure the specifics do not need to be settled imminently.
And what of the Twenty20 World Cup in October?
The competition is scheduled to take place, comprising seven host cities in Australia from October 18 to November 15. A meeting of the International Cricket Council's chief executives' committee was held via conference call on Thursday, and the T20 World Cup was front and centre of the discussion. In the midst of the crisis, the idea of a 16-team tournament of 45 matches in 29 days beginning in less than six months might seem improbable and organisers in Australia say they are "exploring all other options".
What impact does all this have financially?
We couldn't have asked for a more thrilling final! #WI win by 4 wickets! #WT20 #ENGvWI #WT20Final pic.twitter.com/MihTkjwcg6
— ICC (@ICC) April 3, 2016
Postponing the T20 World Cup is unattractive given the packed international calendar and the existential importance of shared central revenues to most of the national boards. Outside of cricket's traditional big three – England, Australia and India – the main issue for national boards is that they get some payment regardless of the decision taken on the next global event. The PA news agency understands the ongoing viability of some boards could come under threat if they do not receive that money.
What measures have been taken in this country?
The ECB has announced a financial stimulus package worth £61million to support the game during its hiatus. Chief executive Tom Harrison also announced he will take an undisclosed cut on his near £720,000 salary. A collective player agreement has been thrashed out between the Professional Cricketers' Association, the ECB and the 18 first-class counties. County cricketers will take "maximum reductions" in their salaries during April and May while also agreeing to waive £1million in prize money this year.
What about furloughing?
🗣 County players agree voluntary package with @ECB_cricket and counties to support first-class game.https://t.co/Ka0Itcoslk
— PCA (@PCA) April 8, 2020
Under the agreement, which covers April and May, players will also agree to be furloughed if asked by their county, which cannot deduct wages further than what has been decided and should be in line with non-playing staff at each individual club. Yorkshire, Essex, Glamorgan, Kent and Leicestershire were among the first counties to announce furloughing for at least some of their playing staff.
