It all feels strange but due to the Covid-19 virus the Cricket Club, under the instructions of the English Cricket Board (ECB), is under suspension with no matches or gatherings taking place for senior and junior players. The suspension, it would appear, will be for the foreseeable future and maybe for the whole cricket season. However, coaching on a 1 to 1 basis is now allowed under the safety guidance of social distancing etc. So there maybe some small 1 to 1 coaching activities taking place in June.  Hopefully full local cricket may start up in late summer.

The cricket senior league XI side having won the league title for the 2019 season was raring to go to try and repeat their success for 2020, but now, if team cricket does start up again this season, it will have to be on a friendly or knock out game basis. The friendly XI had a full fixture list. Also we had a full junior take up which may have to be abandoned for this year.

So what is happening with the Cricket Club and the cricket green during the suspension?  The CC is still holding its monthly committee meetings via telephone conference calls to ensure that we can continue with club business. These virtual meetings are to review our financial position, to cover only necessary expenditure, keeping it to a minimum as we have no income at present coming into the club. Also we need to keep the maintenance of the cricket green in good order. Our volunteer ground keepers, self isolate in the work to be undertaken, ensuring that safe working procedures are adopted. You can see from the photograph at the beginning of this post that the square and outfield are in fine condition and ready for the re-commencement of cricket.

Seniors: The CC has to take into account the possibility of recommencement of local cricket this year, maybe in late summer? But present signs are still not looking good at this time. The club however, is still keen to welcome new players of all ages to the club, even in this situation of suspension, so please mention it to any of your friends or contact our captains.

Juniors: It looks like the current suspension will not be lifted in time for this year’s full group training sessions. We are looking into restarting some junior coaching on a 1 to 1 basis using the nets etc. There may be a possibility of some full junior training, possibly in July/August, but again, the present situation does not look too helpful. Lets hope we get back soon to scenes shown in the previous year’s photo below.

If Junior team training/coaching does happen, we will need help and support this year. Please email, Caroline Tristem on [email protected] or call Alexander Wood (07753 832323) for more/latest information.

For further information about the club, please call the Club Captain, Mark Burton (07722 752465)  Friendly Captain, Andrew Dunn, (07973 748861); Secretary, Sion Griffiths (07775 516448).

In the absence of cricket, we hope that the people of Hambledon will use and enjoy the Cricket Green outfield space for their controlled recreational use during this uncertain time.