Dear All
Playing Conditions
We look forward to welcoming you to Easton-in-Gordano Cricket Club for what will hopefully be an enjoyable day of cricket. Since you last played at our ground, much in the outside world has changed, however we are still a local village cricket club with strong connections not only with the village, but the wider community and the cricket fraternity at large. In these unfamiliar times we owe it to each other to ensure we follow the government guidance and take any extra precautions necessary. Hopefully you will find this note helpful in fulfilling our obligations.
You will be familiar with the ECB’s COVID-19 Plan for Junior and Open-Age Cricket, if not then please do take the time to read the attached.
You should, of course, always follow the current UK Government Advice. Please note the following important points:
1. BEFORE THE GAME
Players, spectators and volunteers must not travel to the ground if you have Covid-19 symptoms or have been in contact with someone with Covid-19 symptoms and have been advised to self-isolate
Participants should bring their own hand sanitiser and maintain frequent hand hygiene measures. Players must arrive changed in playing kit ready to play as the changing rooms will be closed.
Players must keep their kit bags in their vehicles unless in use. Please do not leave kit bags lying around the ground.
Players are to arrive no more than 30 minutes before the start of play.
You must park your car in the EIGCC designated car park. Under no circumstances should you park your car in the pub car park. The away team captain should provide an estimate of number of cars likely to attend in advance of the game, so that appropriate spaces can be made available.
No ‘tea’ will be provided. Players should bring their own food and drink.
2. MATCH PREPARATION
Groundsman to mark the socially distant running lines on wicket, as per ECB guidance. No boundary flags will be used but the boundary shall be marked by the white line. There will be no 30-metre circle marker
Toilets and match equipment to be cleaned thoroughly and sanitised.
3. THE PAVILION
The changing rooms are closed except for use of the toilets, with a one in one out system in place. You must check the toilet is vacant before going into the changing room.
No more than one person inside the pavilion at one time.
The pavilion will remain closed during match play except for the female toilet which, will be accessible. You must check the toilet is vacant before going into pavilion. Please wait outside the Pavilion for the toilet to become vacant.
4. DURING THE GAME
All participants will sanitise their hands before the game. No sweat or saliva to be applied to the ball at anytime No spitting or rinsing mouths out.
A ‘hygiene break’ will take place every six overs or every 20 minutes, whichever is sooner, in which the ball is cleaned with an anti-bacterial wipe. This routine should also be followed at the start of any drinks break or the close of an innings.
During the hygiene break all participants hands are cleaned using a suitable sanitiser.
The responsibility for sanitising the ball during the match will lie with the fielding captain, not the umpire.
Players will adhere to UK Government social distancing guidance at all times (including throughout warm- ups) except in the following limited circumstances during competitive play in England only, where 1m+ is permitted: 1) wicket keepers standing up to the stumps and 2) distance between slip fielders. In both circumstances’ masks must be worn.
Should the ball enter the Pub beer garden, then the fielding side should collect it and not rely upon the pub patrons to throw it back.
Should the ball enter the private garden at the ‘field’ end of the ground then the ball should be left and replacement used.
Batters to sanitise their bat after leaving the field of play. Wicket Keepers should sanitise their gloves.
Bowlers cannot hand any personal items to the umpire. Bowlers should place these items at the boundary themselves.
No sharing of equipment. No sharing of umpire coats.
Batters are to run in distinct running lines to ensure they are not within 2m of the bowler or other batter. The square will be marked accordingly.
Social distancing must always be maintained including during post-wicket celebrations (e.g. no handshakes, or high-fives, bat pats), drinks breaks and tactical discussions.
Minimise sharing of the ball in a match by limiting contact as the ball makes its way back to the bowler e.g. ball goes straight from wicketkeeper to bowler instead of around surrounding fielders.
Visiting team to provide their own ball.
Between innings and at close of play, stumps and bails to be disinfected.
5. POST-MATCH
Stumps and bails to be disinfected and returned to storage.
Pavilion and toilets will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitised.
All surfaces and equipment will be cleaned and sanitised.
You will still be able to reminisce, at a social distance, and ‘remind’ Richard Anderson of his three dropped catches in the game.
Rubbish to be placed in appropriate bins or recycling as necessary. Match fees to be paid online*, where possible.
*Bank details will be provided separately
A copy of the EIGCC full risk assessment is available in the club house and on our website, should you wish to view it.
We do hope you enjoy your game of cricket and appreciate these necessary steps that all cricket clubs are having to take.
After all this effort lets just hope it doesn’t rain!
Best regards,
The Committee