Berkshire Cricket Foundation

As we enter the fifth week of the ‘Lockdown’ and also hit what would have been the first weekend of the Cricket season, we wanted to update clubs on the current thinking and plans for the 2020 season.

With the lockdown continuing it very clear that the Cricket season this year will be very different to any we have witnessed previously. BCF are in constant communication with the ECB, and local leagues and are looking at the various scenarios that may play out as the situation around social distancing and isolation develops.

It is clear that the fixture list (for all league and competitions) will not be as planned, and indeed may not be able to be used at all. We have therefore taken some decisions on the Youth Competitions as a Management Team, in order to give some clarity and certainty to clubs in this unprecedented time.

Entry Fees – there will be no entry fees for any BCF competition for this season, and the Club Affiliation fees (due this month) will also be waived. BCF has agreed that any club who has entered a BCF managed competition, or a recognised Adult league/competition, will be deemed to have affiliated to BCF for the purpose of financial support from ECB, Sport England, or similar.

Fixtures - with all cricket activities currently suspended until further notice, the fixtures that have been scheduled for the 2020 season are frozen.
The ECB County Cups at Under 13 and 15 level are suspended and are unlikely to take place either on a County or National basis.
We will be looking at all possibilities for matchplay as the situation regarding the possible relaxation of social distancing becomes clearer, with the most practical option being to play some form or cricket during whatever season we end up with. This will almost certainly result in a change from the scheduled groups and fixture list – we will be working on this as things become clearer. There will be no ‘Finals Day’ for any of the competitions this season, as this provides both a logistical and time limiting issue – we want to use whatever playing time is available for clubs to play matches, and with a reduced season the feasibility of getting group placings in time for KO rounds is minimal if not impossible.

Match Balls - we are aware that in this uncertain time, finances for clubs are stretched to the limit. We have spoken with the ball supplier and they have agreed to hold onto the balls until they are needed, however they would like to receive payment!

Our suggestion is that BCF pay the ball suppliers as agreed on the preseason order, and then we have two scenarios to help clubs to budget and have balls for matchplay. Scenario 1 – if we are able to play some matches, clubs would be charged 50% of their ball order, with the other 50% deferred until the 2021 season, when clubs could make a top up order to cover a full 2021 season. Scenario 2 – if there is no opportunity to play this season, we would carry the ball orders over to 2021 and clubs would not need to make a payment to BCF for balls in 2020. This would seem to be an appropriate use of the funds, in the short term, that were transferred from BYCL to BCF after the AGM.

Financial Support for Clubs - As you may have seen direct from ECB communications earlier today, the details and process for the Financial Support for Cricket Clubs has been released.

The overview, guidance, criteria, process and downloads are available via the Coronavirus section of our website - BCF COVID-19 (this section is being regularly updated with new information)

There are two sources of support available - an 'emergency loan scheme' and a 'return to cricket grant scheme'. As per the guidance notes on the website, the loan scheme should be the first option for all clubs

Please read the guidance notes carefully before applying, and note the contacts for each of the scheme. Any Berkshire based club who are entered into a 2020 competition (adult league, midweek league or youth comp) are eligible for support

BCF are operating with a much reduced capacity at the moment, please use foundation@berkshirecricketfoundation.org for enquiries

Mark Roche, Managing Director of Berkshire Cricket Foundation, said, 'Whilst the short term aim for everyone is to get through this very serious situation, we want to ensure that Cricket and in particular our Clubs are in a position to restart their activities when it is safe and right to do so. Cricket and its clubs have the ability to help their communities to recover from the difficulties that Coronavirus is causing, and we need to ensure that the clubs are also supported through this difficult time. Whilst we are all keen to return to some kind of normal, how cricket looks this season will need to be looked at carefully to ensure that if we can play, it is made as simple for clubs, players, parents and volunteers to access.

Clubs need to do what they can to reduce the immediate financial impact that the pandemic may cause them by looking to reduce expenditure and seek financial support where needed, whilst also looking to the future and what they need to do to be able to get back into action when possible.

The announcement of ECB Emergency Support Programme for Cricket Clubs, aligned with the other sources of funding that are available, will enable the clubs to ride out the current storm, be ready to pull the covers off, toss up, and take first strike as and when the time is right. We will continue to engage with our clubs, leagues, and other organisations to keep our plans fluid, and to react quickly to the ever changing situation.’