ECB UPDATE 25 SEP

Dear ,

Please find below your weekly update, including information regarding playing cricket indoors which has been updated since the latest Government announcements. 

With just under a week until the end of Women's Big Cricket Month we would encourage you to share pictures and our new playing pathway video and take part in our competition which is live until 30 September.

Following the Prime Minister and First Minister’s announcement earlier this week, the below update now applies for cricket:

In England:

• Outdoor cricket activity can still take place in line with ECB guidance.
• From Thursday 24th September: a 10pm curfew is in place for all clubhouses operating as licensed food and drinks venues or selling food and drink. Venues must only offer table service to prevent customers queuing to order, and customers must be seated when consuming food and drink inside the premises.
• Face coverings must be worn indoors in accordance with UK Government law (see here) unless eating or drinking.
• From Monday 28 September: The “Rule of 6” applies to over 18s participating in indoor cricket activity. This means that provided groups of 6 do not mix, multiple net sessions of up to six people per net can take place at the same time in the same COVID secure indoor venue. It means that match play for over 18s in groups larger than 6 is not possible at this time.
• Exemptions to the ‘Rule of 6’ are:

1. Under 18s;
2. Educational settings where cricket activity is delivered as part of curriculum or in-school activity. (NB: Where clubs have a booking for the use of a school facility out of school hours, then the rule of 6 would apply)
3. Indoor organised cricket activity for disabled people;
4. Elite training and competition;
5. Coach development courses are exempt as they are covered by the work exemption as long as the workplace is COVID-19 Secure but Government guidance now states that you should carry on working from home wherever possible;

• As a result of the changes, the ECB will be reviewing and updating both the indoor guidance for cricket and the guidance for clubhouses to reflect the latest government guidance and will reissue shortly.
• For the latest UK Government guidance and support, please visit Gov.uk; you should also check local restrictions that apply in your area.
• Venues must also display an NHS QR Code Poster (physically or electronically) – see here for details on how to register and create your NHS QR code poster.  Once you have produced and displayed your poster, you then need to get visitors to scan the NHS QR code when they arrive at your venue using the NHS COVID-19 app. Please note that the NHS QR code is an alternative to providing contact details - if someone chooses not to scan the NHS QR code using the NHS COVID-19 app, you are still legally required to record and maintain their contact details in a compliant record keeping system for use in the NHS Test and Trace system.

In Wales:

• Outdoor cricket activity can still take place in line with ECB guidance;
• There are no current changes to the guidance around indoor sporting activity.
• From 6pm on Thursday 24 September: club houses providing food and drink will have to provide table service only and stop serving at 10pm.
• Venues must also display an NHS QR Code Poster (physically or electronically) – see here for details on how to register and create your NHS QR code poster.  Once you have produced and displayed your poster, you then need to get visitors to scan the NHS QR code when they arrive at your venue using the NHS COVID-19 app.  Please note that the NHS QR code is an alternative to providing contact details - if someone chooses not to scan the NHS QR code using the NHS COVID-19 app, you are still legally required to record and maintain their contact details in a compliant record keeping system for use in the NHS Test Trace Protect system.

To accompany the playing pathway graphic that we shared with you last week, we have also produced a video to bring to life the playing opportunities from All Star to England Star. 

As part of the ongoing Women's Big Cricket Month celebrations, we’d love to see your photos of you playing the game!

From 23-30 September 2020, share your playing images on Twitter with #WomensCricketMonth to be in with a chance of winning one of the following top prizes:

• A limited-edition signed England Women’s shirt featuring the Black Lives Matter logo
• A signed England Women’s shirt
• A bat signed by the England Women’s team
• A signed England Women’s cap
• Four tickets to watch England Women play at home in 2021 (subject to Government guidance pertaining to mass attendance at sporting events and the match being staged with spectators in attendance)

Competition closes at 11.59pm on Wednesday 30 September 2020.

Entrants must be aged 13 or over and resident in England or Wales. Entrants need permission from their parent or carer to enter the competition. Terms and conditions apply.

Don't miss the action

This weekend is jam packed with cricket so make sure you tune in throughout. See below for a list of all the action and how you can watch.

• Saturday 26 September: England v West Indies live on BBC Sport and Sky Sports Cricket
• Sunday 27 September: Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Final (Northern Diamonds v Southern Vipers) live on Sky Sports Cricket
• Live until Sunday 27 September: Bob Willis Trophy Final (Somerset v Essex) streamed live in the ECB Match Centre here.

England & Wales Cricket Board, Lord's Cricket Ground, London, NW8 8QZ