In a statement released after the prime minister’s daily briefing in which he ordered the closing of pubs, clubs, restaurants, gyms, the ECB announced that there would be no professional cricket played before May 28. The statement read: “The ECB Board has today agreed that no professional cricket will be played in England and Wales until at least May 28 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The ECB Board has agreed that no professional cricket will be played in England and Wales before May 28.
• Work has begun on possible revised schedules to begin in June, July or August.
• The ECB has worked closely with the counties, PCA and MCC with the wellbeing of the cricket family the number one priority.
• A revised schedule would prioritise delivering as much international and domestic cricket as possible.”

Earlier this week, prime minister Boris Johnson claimed that the UK “can turn the tide within the next 12 weeks.” The proposed earliest possible starting point of the English cricketing summer is just under 10 weeks away. The first seven rounds of the County Championship were scheduled to take place before May 28.

The ECB laid out how they would go about creating a schedule for a shortened county season, saying that they are focussing on putting on the “the most financially important forms of cricket” for the 18 counties. Ensuring that the international schedule, T20 Blast and The Hundred all take place were listed as their main three priorities when it came to scheduling.