English cricket hit by four-week delay to full lifting of lockdown

Crowds for international and domestic cricket will remain at a maximum of 25 per cent, with a new date of July 19 targeted for a complete unlocking

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Cricket will have to wait for the full return of crowds to grounds in England after a four-week delay to the full lifting of lockdown restrictions was confirmed by prime minister Boris Johnson.

Due to an increase in Covid-19 infections primarily caused by the Delta variant, the June 21 unlocking date has been postponed.

The government want to give the NHS more time to administer vaccines to those aged 50 and above, who are more at risk of infection, hospitalisation and death. 

Additionally, the target to give every adult their first jab has been brought forward to July 19.

It means that capacity crowds at matches in England will have to wait and remain at a maximum of 25 per cent or 10,000, whichever is smaller, as has been the case since May 17.

Pilot events, like the one implemented for the second Test between England and New Zealand at Edgbaston which saw nearly 18,000 attend the first three days, will continue but cricket is not currently due to be part of the next phase of the scheme.

Restrictions will initially impact virtually all of England men's white-ball matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with 11 of their 12 games taking place during the 28-day extension.

^{Fans flocked to Birmingham last week - but crowds of such size might not be seen again for many weeks}

The same also goes for England women, who face India in three one-day internationals and a trio of T20s between June 27 and July 15.

Perhaps the most significant impact will be on the domestic game. The 18 first-class counties had hoped to throw open their doors fully to fans for the back-end of the T20 Blast group phase but are now consigned to the whole preliminary stage being played in front of limited crowds.

The opening three rounds of the Women's Regional T20 which begins on June 26 will also be impacted by the delay.

Counties had been asked to make financial forecasts for matches being played at 50 per cent capacity this season, but crowds significantly lower than that will remain for the foreseeable future.

Crucially for the ECB, however, the new proposed date to unlock fully comes just days before The Hundred kick-offs on July 21, a competition which the governing body hope can attract a new, younger audience.

English cricket's governing body believes losses from the game could end up totalling £200 million due to the disruption caused by the virus, which saw all elite matches played behind closed doors last year.

All counties believe they are financially covered for the 2021 season but it remains to be seen what impact this latest setback has going forward.

Key dates:

Thursday, June 23 - Saturday, June 26: England men v Sri Lanka T20 series

Saturday, June 26: Women's Regional T20 starts

Sunday, 27 June - Saturday 3 July: England women v India ODIs

Tuesday, June 29 - Sunday, July 4: England men v Sri Lanka ODIs

Thursday, July 8 - Tuesday, July 13: England men v Pakistan ODIs

Friday, July 9 - Thursday 15 July: England women v India T20s

Friday, July 16 - Tuesday, July 20: England men v Pakistan T20s

Sunday, July 18: T20 Blast group stage ends

Monday, July 19: Full lifting of lockdown

Wednesday, July 21: Women's Hundred starts

Thursday, July 22: Men's Hundred starts