The English cricket board has decided to further push the cricketing season from May 28 to July 1st. ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said: "As much as we remain hopeful that we can deliver some cricket this summer, we are in the midst of a worldwide crisis and our priority - over and above the playing of professional sport - will be to protect the vulnerable, key workers and society as a whole over. That's why, simply put, there will be no cricket unless it's safe to play. Our schedule will only go ahead if Government guidance permits.
"Our biggest challenge, along with other sports, is how we could seek to implement a bio-secure solution that offers optimum safety and security for all concerned. The guidance we receive from Westminster will help us shape how we deliver this. "Our plan is to reschedule international matches as late as possible in the season to give the best chance of play. The Vitality Blast will also now occupy the latest possible season slot to offer as much time as possible to play a County short-form competition." The new date will cause ngland's three-match home test series against the West Indies scheduled for June and the women's T20I and ODI matches against India in June and July to pushed to another date. The decision also means nine rounds of fixtures will be lost in the County Championship season.
