NEWS

18th March 2020 from ECB

Dear all,

Following the Government’s latest advice around social distancing, it is with sadness and reluctance that we recommend that all forms of recreational cricket are for now suspended.

This extends to training, pre-season friendlies and any associated cricket activity.

Sport plays an absolutely vital role in the nation’s mental and physical wellbeing, and it helps people find meaning where there is fear and uncertainty, so one of our goals in the coming weeks will be to explore ways that we can support some levels of physical activity in communities - particularly at junior levels.

Using our cricket community to support others could be one of the most important services we can offer during the difficult next few months.

It will be critical that any decisions we do make are medically-led. And we will continue to work with Government and their advisors to ensure we are informed by science in our decision making.

Over the coming weeks we will work with the game to understand what support is required across the cricket community, particularly local clubs and leagues.

We understand that countless hours of work from thousands of volunteers have already gone into getting ready for the 2020 season and we know how disappointing this will be. We are thankful for the huge role that volunteers play in local cricket, to ensure the game remains at the heart of communities.

We know that you and your clubs can play an important role in bringing your community together once we get past this period of time.

17th March 2020

As you might expect rumours are rife and many sporting organisations have already made strategic decisions. The RFU and FA have cancelled all Rugby & Football, Rugby League is postponing games and even Crown Green Bowls has been suspended. The Indian Premier League has been deferred. So far the UK cricket authorities have been largely silent. However UAJCA understands there is likely a communication later today, so UAJCA does not propose any action until we have received that.

There are rumours that some senior cricket leagues may attempt to play half a season starting in July [play each other just once]. Junior Cricket doesn't really have that luxury.

So UAJCA may have three choices...

Do Nothing and continue as normal [unlikely]
Abandon the season altogether
Delay the start and/or suspend certain competitions [partial shutdown].

In terms of considering a potential partial shut-down for UAJCA, the options to consider are all or any of the following:

The Winter Elite Academy
The Girls Coaching Course
The Joe Lumb Cup and The Yorkshire Junior Cricket Festival
Representative Cricket friendly matches
Cup competitions [Finals in late June/early July]
The Black Rat Festival
Uner-9 Development programme
UAJCA League Matches

Yesterday Pro Coach said they had no plans to cancel the Elite Academy then, but their view may have changed following the Government News.
It has been suggested that if UAJCA somehow curtails the early part of the season, there may well not be sufficient time in which to fit in all Cup Rounds.
The Black Rat Festival is currently scheduled for 21st June and may fall outside the lockdown period.
UAJCA has scheduled H & A matches with Louth [Lincolnshire] and Cumbria and these longer-distance fixtures now seem contrary to the current advice regarding social mobility restriction advice.
UAJCA has been in touch with the NYWGCA and they have expressed doubt about continuation of the Skipton course; but await announcement later today.

UAJCA is having to contemplate losing elements of cricket that normally fills our youngsters' summer with enjoyment. UAJCA is also cognisant of all the very hard work all clubs and teams have put into the game and indeed which this year seemed as though the game in UAJCA might have turned a corner.

But UAJCA has to recognise that cricket is only a game and that the protection of vulnerable people and control of the spread of the virus to save lives, far outweighs our personal love for cricket.

UAJCA expects an official communication later today/evening and will then try to finalise which options are best.

Monday 16th March 2020 advice from Government.

The PM has said everyone in the UK should avoid "non-essential" travel and contact with others to curb Coronavirus - as the country's death toll hit 55.

Boris Johnson said people should work from home where possible as part of a range of stringent new measures.

Pregnant women, people over the age of 70 and those with certain health conditions should consider the advice "particularly important", he said.

People in at-risk groups will be asked within days to stay home for 12 weeks.

More than 1,500 people have tested positive for the virus in the UK - but the actual number of cases is estimated to be between 35,000 and 50,000.

In the first of a series of daily briefings on the virus, the prime minister - alongside the government's chief scientific and medical advisers - said the key new measures are as follows:

Everyone should avoid gatherings and crowded places, such as pubs, clubs and theatres
Everyone should work from home if they can
All "unnecessary" visits to friends and relatives in care homes should cease
By next weekend, those with the most serious health conditions must be "largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks"
The UK is now "three weeks" behind Italy - the worst-hit country in Europe
If one person in any household has a persistent cough or fever, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days
Those people should, if possible, avoid leaving the house "even to buy food or essentials" - but they may leave the house "for exercise and, in that case, at a safe distance from others"
Schools will not be closed for the moment

Chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty said the group of people who should take "particular care to minimise their social contact" were:

People over the age of 70
Other adults who would normally be advised to have the flu vaccine (such as those with chronic diseases)
Pregnant women.

Sunday 15th March 2020

ECB are undertaking a number of steps to prepare for potential outcomes that an ongoing situation with Covid-19 might bring for the cricket community here in England and Wales.

In conjunction with our partners across the network, we are building contingency plans across a number of possible eventualities.

Our main priorities are to ensure we scope out the landscape for financial, logistical and scheduling implications.

It is difficult for us to be sure of what outcomes the game might be expected to deal with. Therefore, we will continue to plan for the expectation that the season proceeds as normal, but in parallel prepare for a range of scenarios. These could include the possibility of playing matches behind closed doors, or potentially postponing or cancelling elements of the season.

We continue to enjoy constructive dialogue with DCMS and also our commercial and broadcast partners – who match our ambitions to see the game of cricket thrive in 2020 and beyond. We are certain that jointly, we will all come to solutions that best protect those who love cricket, and the game itself.

please remember that the most recent advice is that if a person feels unwell, with symptoms such as a new and continuous cough, they should self-isolate at home for seven days.

The 2019 UAJCA representative sides had a wonderful day on Sunday 21st July in the Yorkshire Junior Cricket Festival.

The under-13s team travelled to Ossett CC to take on Heavy Woollen District and came away with a 21 run victory. In a low scoring game, skipper James Powell led from the front with 23 and had great backing from Charlie Jackson [21] and Jacob Stephens [18] in a modest total of 112 all out in 31.3 overs. With the ball James again excelled taking 2-8 in 7 very tidy overs. Club team-mates Jake Keslinke [2-9] and Stan Lloyd [2-10] piled on the pressure and had the home side at 57-7. Number 9 Appleyard hit out for 23 but was bowled by Jake and they ended at 91 all out. Having had to concede to Aire-Wharfe last week, this was a great result and we look forward to next Friday when we take on Scarborough at Sutton-in-Craven.

Under-15 Manager Adnaan Shafique took a makeshift team to Bradfield CC and also came away with a win. Also batting first, skipper Jack Luxton also produced a Captain''s innings with 51. At number 7 Mohammed Yusuf chipped in 35 not out with keeper Ibrahim Butt also adding 29. Our bowlers did a grand job in containing the Sheffield batsmen at 153-9 with 2 wickets each for Jack, club-mate Johnny Atherton and Oakworth leggie Subhaan Ahmed. The next match is on August 5th at Earby CC vs the Nidderdale League.

UAJCA is very proud to announce another one of its quality players has been selected for the County squad. Long overdue, its James Powell from Oakworth CC. After some scintillating performances for and against Regional sides and Durham County, James has finally been welcomed into the White Rose under-13s set-up. This weekend he rattled off 98 not out for West Yorkshire against South Yorkshire.

Well done James, it now gets tougher but lets see you follow in the recent footsteps of Will Luxton, and James Mukherjee.

Nab Wood Crematorium was awash with cricketers and former cricketers to say farewell to Len Falkingham. Len [89] passed away at his home of two years at Thompson Court recently. UAJCA offers its sincere condolences to his extended family. His grandsons gave the eulogy for a grandfather who had dedicated his long life to the game of cricket and in particular to his beloved Harden Cricket Club.

His son Mark and two grandsons Martin and Richard had been joined at the club by Len's great-grandson Alfie who is now making his career at the Cuckoos Nest in the Harden under-11s.

Len had been President of the club for 52 years and was until recently an active member of the Keighley Cup Committee, sponsors of UAJCA under-17s League.

UAJCA acclaims the successes of two of its players, who have both been awarded places within the Yorkshire County team structure.

Will Luxton [Steeton CC] [below left] was acclaimed as the Player of the Season by YCCC following his appearance for the North of England at the Bunbury Festival and his earlier century against rivals Lancashire. Will now finds himself a place on the Emerging Player Programme [EPP]

To his right is James Mukherjee [Skipton CC] who now has a place at the Yorkshire Academy following his stint with the EPP and County Age Group appearances in 2018, despite being injured for a while.

We're very proud of you both, lads. We wish you all the best in your quest in higher status cricket. Fly the UAJCA flag!!