East Sussex clubs keen to salvage cricket season after league is cancelled

Cricketers across the Sussex Express area are disappointed at news the Sussex Cricket League season has been cancelled.
Lewes Priory CC - keen to see some action, like all local clubsLewes Priory CC - keen to see some action, like all local clubs
Lewes Priory CC - keen to see some action, like all local clubs

Clubs have been told lockdown restrictions are not being lifted quick enough for the league’s idea of a ‘half season’ – starting on July 11 – to be realistic.

As league officials give clubs other options for getting at least some competitive cricket in this summer, there’s anger across the country that cricket seems to be taking longer than many other sports and activities to be allowed to restart.

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Seaford CC, who play in division three east, were among many clubs to retweet a view expressed by former England captain Michael Vaughan that the government must give recreational cricket the green light as soon as possible.

Juniors and women’s softball cricketers at Seaford are at least back in training, the club having shared pictures of the small groups taking part in socially distanced drills.

Glynde and Beddingham, also of division three east, are another club getting the kids back in action.

A first session for their under-nines and tens was followed by sessions for U11/12s and secondary school groups. In all, more than 50 youngsters have been put through their paces.

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At division four east side Lewes Priory CC, outdoor practice sessions are being promoted.

Subject to enough supervision being in place, the club are planning to run net sessions five days a week (Tuesday to Saturday) for different teams and age groups.

Places have to be booked and new members are welcome. The club website has further details.

Hailsham CC, of division five east, are one of a number of clubs planning to enter the August Cup which the Sussex League plan to put on (see details below).

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Hailsham tweeted: “We will be looking to enter two teams into the cup, and get friendlies on as well so we can get as much cricket in. We plan to run cricket week in the first week of August too.”

As reported last week, Isfield CC have also returned to the nets.

League's latest

The Sussex Cricket League sent an email to all clubs at the end of last week explaining time had run out on hopes of staging half a season.

They said guidelines from the government and ECB had not altered quick enough to allow a ‘half league season’ to begin on Saturday, July 11.

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The note to clubs gave htem a number of different options being explored for what cricket could be fitted in to what was left of the summer.

The league said: “We are putting together an ‘August Cup’ ... based around shorter formats (likely T20). We envisage groups of 6/7 teams (so 5/6 matches each), aligned by location and broad ability level, with a finals event for group winners in early September.

“Entry is entirely optional, it is simply our best effort to provide some meaningful competitive cricket in the circumstances we are in.”

Other alternatives are for clubs to play scheduled fixtures as friendlies, although long-distance travel across the county is known to be difficult at present.

Clubs need to tell the league if they want to play in the August Cup.