“With no match-day revenue the whole mindset around hosting matches shifts”
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison has admitted that international cricket held behind closed doors this summer will likely lead to changes in venues.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced the ECB to delay the start of the season till at least July 1, with England’s three-Test series with West Indies – which was initially set to begin in June at The Oval – now looking to be shoehorned in from July through to September.
A Daily Telegraph report last week stated that the ECB is exploring the possibility of England playing all their matches this summer at three grounds: Old Trafford, Headingley and the Ageas Bowl.
The ECB has made clear that its priority is to protect “society as a whole”, and it will seek a “bio-secure solution” to hosting cricket matches.
Speaking to reporters on a video conference call, Harrison said that international cricket without spectators would cause a shift in priorities leading to possible venue changes.
“Inevitably, behind closed doors, with all the implications we’ve talked about, that does change the venue allocation and the mindset changes,” Harrison said.
“With no match-day revenue the whole mindset around hosting matches shifts. It goes from taking the game around the country to give fans a chance to see England in their backyard. That shifts because there’s no one seeing England play live at all. It then shifts to public health and those priorities I set out earlier.
“That will mean the venues which are best-suited to offering those conditions will be in a strong position. What those conditions are need to be agreed with government. And then we need to consider them and make decisions on the back of those. But you’re absolutely right to suggest, ‘Does behind closed doors change the venue allocation?’ In all likelihood, yes. That’s one of the scenarios we’re planning on. Albeit one that’s not clear yet.”
Harrison admitted that any further delays to the season would lead to the cancellation of international fixtures rather than any rescheduling.
“We’re still planning on an international season which starts with the West Indies,” he said. “But we’re probably getting to the point now where any further delays beyond where we’ve already started planning for will involve losing cricket rather than rescheduling again. We’re making maximum use of what we anticipate being a very short season this year.”
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The chief exec also admitted that other international boards have offered to host England’s home fixtures overseas and that the Future Tours Programme is likely to encounter to some change as boards across the world grapple with the pandemic.
“We’ve had offers from multiple internationals boards about hosting ECB home cricket overseas, as far away as New Zealand and Australia,” said Harrison. “To a certain extent, everything’s on the table. The discussion around FTP [Future Tours Programme], the World T20, IPL – there’s a huge number of moving pieces that all need to be considered.”
