NICK HOWSON: The ECB's managing director of county cricket Neil Snowball has optimistically outlined how the 2021 summer is shaping up, with full crowds very much part of the plan
County cricketers will be regularly tested for Covid-19 during 2021 and will remain under strict rules regarding their movement even as the United Kingdom moves through the roadmap out of lockdown.
Financial and logistical constraints meant testing was not possible for domestic players last summer.
But 1200 lateral flow devices, which produce a result within 30 minutes, have been supplied to the 18 first-class counties and are currently being used during pre-season matches.
All players have signed up to a code of conduct that controls their movements both at and away from grounds, similar to last season.
Outdoor hospitality and non-essential retail reopen in England from April 12, domestic overnight stays and international travel returns from May 17 before all restrictions are eased from June 21.
But all players have been warned to curb their behaviour.
The ECB's managing director of county cricket Neil Snowball: "Their number one priority is to make sure they protect themselves and their colleagues and we will be encouraging them to stay away from environments where they are likely to catch Covid."
Though matches will be played behind closed doors when the season kicks off with the County Championship on April 8, venues are permitted to be at 25 per cent capacity from May 17 - in time for the lucrative T20 Blast which begins on June 9.
The government hope all restrictions can be lifted later that month, but the ECB and all counties are braced for some to remain in place.
A combination of social distancing limits, masks and vaccine certificates, which the government are currently considering introducing as proof of having received full immunisation, remain on the table.
"We'll do whatever we're asked to do to make sure we can get the maximum number of people back," added Snowball. "The ideal combination would be some kind of certification, with some kind of social distancing and probably wearing masks and we'll do that to get as many people in as possible."
Empty stadiums was a regular site across the country last summer
He added: "We're keeping our options open. The government advice isn't always consistent and can vary week to week.
"One of the options is venues can take their own mitigation factors to help encourage people back and to help suit their local requirements.
"The government can put out their roadmap but ultimately the responsibility is to the local Safety Advisory Group and the local Public Health Department. We'll do whatever is required to get people back but masks for some of the PHE does seem to be quite an important factor."
Snowball says each county has the financial means to play out the upcoming season, as the sport continues to count the cost of playing the 2020 campaign without spectators.
Losses are still be totalled but the ECB expect that upwards of £100 million has been lost from the county game due to the coronavirus pandemic. Counties will have to wait another six weeks to discover the size of crowds towards for the end of the season.
Future forecasts are therefore being made on the proviso of 50 per cent capacity throughout. Another term without supporters is being described as a "very challenging" prospect.
"We're trying to be as optimistic as we can," said Snowball. "The demand for tickets has been huge and the venues will be trying to get crowds in.
"We'll probably know about a month out, mid-May we'll get a better idea of how the other stages of the roadmap have gone.
Somerset won the last One-Day Cup contested in 2019
"We're very close to the discussions and I'm really hopeful that we can get significant crowds back but if for any reason we can't and those restrictions continue those venues have roll-back plans for the games in August and September."
A summer that includes a full international schedule, the return of a revised Championship, the Blast and The Hundred is also accomodating the scaled-down One-Day Cup which will run concurrently alongside the 100-ball competition.
Due to the busy schedule, the final of the 50-over competition will be played on a Thursday (August 19) and away from its traditional home at Lord's. After being pushed to the fringes of the season, cancelled altogether last term and now moved to a mid-week slot (it was pencilled in for a September Saturday before Covid struck) it is another blow for a format in which England are world champions.
"What we want to do is make it an event in its own right," Snowball explained.
"It'll be interesting to see how that goes. I know it is controversial to move it away from Lord's but Trent Bridge will embrace it and it'll get off to a good start this year.
"We will hopefully breathe new life into going to a new venue. The One-day Cup is still a special event and you always look forward to it.
"There is a lot of cricket at Lord's and the crowds weren't what they used to be. Trent Bridge pitched for it and I think they'll do a great job.
ECB head of cricket operations Alan Fordham added: "It is difficult to say where it will go in 2022 but if there is a weekend available we may well see it back there.
Essex won the inaugural Bob Willis Trophy last year
After last term's Bob Willis Trophy, a fresh format of the County Championship including a group and divisional stage has been introduced for 2021. Discussion over the future of the red-ball game will continue this term with a view to establishing a more concrete format.
"What we would like to do is have a longer-term plan so we can put something in place that we work to," said former Warwickshire chief-executive Snowball.
"We've agreed to start working through that this year. We want to see how the new format goes. We also want to see what the impact of The Hundred is.
"We'll either come up with a longer-term plan for 2022 and beyond or for the next couple of years. We're committed to getting it wrapped up before the end of the current season."
County Championship fixtures 2021
Royal London Cup fixtures 2021
The Hundred - men fixtures 2021
The Hundred - women fixtures 2021
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures 2021
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