Kent cancel Suffolk fixture due to Covid situation

The counties had been due to face one another at Beckenham ahead of the Royal London Cup

Kent’s National County match against Suffolk, scheduled for July 20, ahead of the Royal London Cup has been cancelled due to the club’s Covid-19 situation.

The county have been at the centre of a chaotic few days; after an unnamed member of the side that beat Surrey in the T20 Blast on Friday evening tested positive, every other player in the matchday squad at the Kia Oval was deemed a close contact and has been forced to self-isolate.

As a result, Kent have had to field an entirely makeshift team for their ongoing County Championship clash with Sussex. In a further complication, however, ahead of the second day’s play seamer Nathan Gilchrist was advised to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, with Bailey Wightman called up as a Covid replacement.

Kent Cricket chief executive Simon Storey said: “Everyone was looking forward to the challenge of facing Suffolk on Tuesday, but, regrettably, we have now contacted them to inform them of our decision.

“The safety of our players, staff, members and spectators remains the club’s top priority; with recent statements from the club outlining our swift and decisive actions to ensure the safety of all.”

The fixture was originally due to be held at Copdock & Old Ipswichian Cricket Club in 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. It was then switched to Beckenham this time around, where Kent will host their group stage matches in the Royal London Cup, with the national county venue unable to meet the Covid regulations required to stage the game.

Suffolk chairman Andrew Squire added: “Whilst disappointing for all concerned, we fully understand and respect Kent’s decision. Our players were looking forward to playing at The County Ground, Beckenham, and testing themselves against high-class opposition.

“We very much hope to fulfil the fixture next season on a Suffolk ground and send our best wishes to Kent for the remainder of this season.”

Kent are not alone in facing these issues: Essex’s clash with Derbyshire was abandoned on Monday morning after a Derbyshire player tested positive after the first day’s play, while England are fielding a second string in their ODI series with Pakistan after a Covid outbreak at the end of the hosts’ preceding series against Sri Lanka.