SUNRAYSIA cricket clubs are going to have to reshape how they operate in order to keep the game going post COVID-19.
Cricket Australia is in the process of establishing guidelines and match-day protocols to ensure teams can take the field again, sending them out to the states for feedback.
These guidelines will include barring the sharing of equipment and requiring captains to clean the ball every few overs with an antibacterial wipe, as well as during breaks and when a wicket falls.
The ball will be placed next to the stumps at the end of an over to be picked up by the next bowler to start their over. This will also happen at the end of a session or after a wicket.
No saliva or sweat can be used on the ball and umpires will not be able to take a bowler’s cap or glasses.
Sunraysia Cricket Association has instructed clubs to have a COVID-19 officer charged with the responsibility that players and officials at their clubs are educated and follow protocols.
SCA administration officer Peter Woodford said the guidelines would be difficult to administer in lower grades of cricket on match days.
In third and fourth divisions there are rarely league-appointed umpires and the nature of filling lower-grade teams for many clubs results in a revolving door of players who will now need to be instructed on correct protocols.
“A lot more responsibility will be on umpires but as we know there’s not umpires in the lower grades all the time,” Mr Woodford said.
“Between captains it’s going to be difficult, very difficult.”
Mr Woodford said as the start date for the season approached, with the association’s top two grades scheduled to start on October 10, more information would be made available to associations to be filtered to the clubs.
The SCA board meets on Monday night and is expected to discuss matters concerning the return to play, including uncertainty over the two New South Wales-based clubs’ ability to participate.
