Latest ECB Covid-19 Update

Dear all, 

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.

Guidance for getting your clubhouse ready

We have finalised guidance on preparing your clubhouse and grounds for when recreational clubs can return to playing cricket in England. The date of which, as we have outlined, is still to be confirmed. 

The Government position has however, been updated to allow the opening of bars and food/drink facilities. Clubs, if they wish to, can begin offering this from 4th July. Within our latest guidance, you can seek information on how to safely offer this to members and visitors. 

This guidance includes information for those clubs that wish to open their bar and provide any food or drink facilities in accordance with UK Government guidance from 4th July.

Please also find here a download to the Action Checklist and the COVID-19 risk assessment template here. These documents can be adapted to individual circumstances and used to inform discussions with your facility provider about safe opening (which may include discussions with Local Authorities or education providers).

#Raisethebat

Whilst we wait for the return of the recreational game, we are incredibly excited that cricket will return to our screens from Wednesday 8 July when England Men take on the West Indies in the #raisethebat series. The Three Tests will feature individual themes and we hope that clubs will show their support for each initiative. 

First Test: 8 July

During the first, we will honour and celebrate heroes within the cricket family, many of whom have been playing the innings of their lives to support those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. On day one of the first Test the England Men’s players will pay tribute to cricket’s heroes by wearing the names of key workers on their training shirts before the start of the match.

Second Test: 16 July

During the second Test, with the help of cricket clubs and local community groups, we will be raising awareness of, and helping tackle, food poverty in the UK through a Cricket Tea-A-Thon campaign in partnership with the Trussell Trust, a leading food poverty charity in the UK. 

We will be hosting a virtual cricket tea event at ‘tea’ on day two of the second Test to get clubs, volunteers and families across the country sharing their own cricket teas on social media and encouraging them to donate products to clubs that have signed up as collection points.  

• What do clubs need to do?

Clubs have the opportunity to register as Trussell Trust food collection points for food banks and we would love for as many to get involved as possible. All they need to do is sign up here.

During the match itself, we hope that clubs will encourage their members to host their own cricket teas, share pictures and videos across social media using the #CricketTea and encourage members of the cricket family to donate food to their local cricket club collection point.

• When will more details be shared and what do clubs need to do?

More information can be found here. We encourage clubs to sign up to be food collection points which they can do by registering here.

If you have questions please contact us by emailing here.

Third Test: 24 July - Uniting cricket to turn #RedforRuth on Saturday 25 July – for families facing one of life’s toughest tests.

Following the huge success of Lord’s turning red last year, The Ruth Strauss Foundation is calling on supporters, fans, clubs, counties, celebrities, companies and the media to help turn cricket red again while watching The Ruth Strauss Foundation Test - England v West Indies at Emirates Old Trafford, 24-28 July. 

This year RSF has organised a challenge for all recreational clubs! Clubs who go REALLY REDand tag #RedforRuth and @Ruthstraussfdn on twitter, will have the chance to be featured on Sky Sports during The Ruth Strauss Foundation Test Match. The winner – picked by Sir Andrew Strauss LIVE on Sky Sports – will receive a visit from the man himself and RSF celebrity ambassadors for a bit of coaching, drinks and a Q&A at the club. 

Please share the news across your channels to get involved, get the official RSF red t-shirts and help us turn cricket #RedforRuth on Saturday 25 July.

For more information on the RSF club challenge with useful copy and imagery, please click here.  

To Shop #RedForRuth click here.

Further information running National Programmes

Last week we let you know about the tough decision to cancel Dynamos Cricket this year. Following the update, we have received a number of further questions around All Stars Cricket and the impact of refunds. Please find here updated guidance on both of these. 

Natwest - Creating your budget

• Being a savvy shopper – Just as we do in everyday life, it’s important to shop around to look for the best deals, compare suppliers and negotiate and you could save considerable money

• Using the resources you’ve got – Draw on the resources you already have, both the experience and connections of your members and also existing equipment.

For more advice download the full Guide here.

Google Digital Garage

Thank you to those who signed up to one or more of the recent Google Digital Garage sessions. we hope that you found them helpful and worthwhile. We would be grateful if you were able to provide your feedback on the sessions so that we know if they would be useful to run again in the future, and if so, what amends could be made to improve them. 

Click here to provide your feedback.