On 1 April, the Government’s guidance on COVID-19 measures for grassroots sport participants and providers was lifted. To align with this policy change, ECB has also removed any cricket specific guidance relating to COVID-19. As such, clubs and leagues will no longer be required to follow any protocols aside from the single piece of public health guidance issued by UK Health Security Agency.

This good news means we have the green light to return to business as usual for the 2022 season. However, we continue to encourage players and volunteers in the game to be responsible and considerate to others.

Practice Good Hygiene

• Continue to follow good hygiene practices to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. For example, keeping your venues clean and avoiding the sharing of water bottles or other refreshment containers.
• As a proud Community Cricket Partner of the ECB, Lifebuoy is pleased to offer a heavily subsidised range of hygiene products to help clubs across England & Wales safely return to recreational cricket [Click Here to stock up]

Ensure Proper Ventilation

• Ventilate your indoor spaces by opening windows and doors and using suitable mechanical ventilation where available.

Show Respect For Others

• Continue to be respectful to individuals at higher risk who may still wish to minimise their contact with other people. For example, by not shaking hands before games or physically distancing, or expecting umpires to accept clothing or hats on the field of play
• If you have Covid symptoms, consider getting tested and avoiding any unnecessary contact with your fellow club members.

Law 41.3 – No saliva

When cricket resumed following the onset of Covid-19, playing conditions were written in most forms of the game stating that applying saliva to the ball was no longer permitted. MCC’s research found that this had little or no impact on the amount of swing the bowlers were getting. Players were using sweat to polish the ball, and this was equally effective.

The new Laws will not permit the use of saliva on the ball, which will improve hygiene and remove any grey areas of fielders eating sugary sweets to alter their saliva to apply to the ball. Using saliva will be treated the same way as any other unfair methods of changing the condition of the ball.

All WCL Panel Umpires have been trained and informed of this new rule and have been informed to deal with this change by firstly verbally highlighting the fact that a player has used saliva and inform the Captain and team that this should not be done, then issue a First & Final warning if the umpires are required to speak on the same subject then finally for consistent use of saliva on the ball issue a Level 1 offence to the player (s) concerned.