Ross County get green light to line up friendlies
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Ross County’s cricketers can break out their whites this year as the sport got the go-ahead to return.
The North of Scotland Cricket Association had already cancelled the senior league because of the pandemic, raising doubts over whether cricket would be played at all in 2020.
Some clubs, such as Buckie, had went as far as to say that even if some play was possible, they would not be taking part.
It has always been the hope of most clubs though that some form of action could take place this summer, even if that meant friendly matches or localised tournaments instead of the usual league and two cups.
The first steps to a return came at youth level, with development officer for the Highlands Alex Green running sessions for under-11s at Ross County, Northern Counties and Nairn last month.
Finally, a return for senior squad members was made possible this week when Cricket Scotland announced new guidelines allowing inter-squad matches to take place with Scottish Government approval.
Previously, only matches between first and second teams in the same clubs were allowed, but the latest development opens the doors to compete against other clubs.
Ross County have wasted no time in arranging games, with friendlies against Inverness outfits Highland and Northern Counties as well Nairn already lined up for their senior team.
The second XI have not been forgotten about either, with a game at Fort Augustus set up for the coming weeks, assuming the weather is good enough for it to go ahead.
Cricket Scotland have reminded all clubs that precautions must be taken in order for these matches to go ahead, including taking details of everyone in attendance by a Covid monitor appointed by the home team.
Limitations will also be in place for gatherings of players pre-match and post-match to minimise contact between different households.
Similarly, players are expected to travel to the game individually.
As a non-contact sport, moments where players are in close proximity to each other are minimal anyway, but sharing equipment will be discouraged and no spectators will be permitted except for parents or guardians of vulnerable adults.
These rules are in place for all fixtures planned at senior and youth levels.
