Cricket is Back!

This weekend would have been match week 14 of the Leicestershire & Rutland Cricket League. Covid-19 has decimated the 2020 season so far although cricket can now return and we are absolutely delighted.

Club captains are back in the habit of selection headaches. Cricketers unable to get away from old habits whether it's still getting stumped, half-volleys aplenty or dropping the easiest of catches.

2020 has been a challenging year so far. Being hit with a deadly virus has affected us all in one way or another. Uncertainty continues for all of us although restrictions have eased for many while for some, lockdown continues.

Ground staff up and down the country have worked tirelessly, hopeful that some form of cricket returns. Their hard-work has been rewarded with the return of cricket and we are excited to see it returning to Mill Lane this week.

Although we are not in competitive action, our 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams will be able to play the game we love for the first time in 308 days. We are truly grateful to the ground staff and everyone involved in the club for making the resumption possible.

The local community helped us through our most difficult winter, raising £8980 through donations on Spacehive, player contributions and ongoing support of our sponsors throughout this period enabling us to put in place the repairs necessary.

When it became safe to do so, our ground staff and club and committee members spent many hours every day down Mill Lane, not just to get the pitches back up and running but most importantly, ensuring the necessary guidelines surrounding Covid-19 can be adhered to.

We are truly grateful for the hard work our members have put in to make it a safer environment for everyone concerned.

For those unable to leave the lockdown zone, we urge you to stay at home and importantly, stay safe. We can't wait to welcome you back down to the ground, but only when it is safe to do so.

In the meantime, our 1st team will host Rothley Park 1s whilst our 2nd team will take the short trip over to Rothley.

On Sunday, James Preston's 3rd team will face Quorn 1s on Pitch One.

Albeit, in strange circumstances, cricket returning will bring joy to many people this weekend and we hope this is a start of better things to come from here on in.

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IMPORTANT NOTE FOR SPECTATORS:

• Until further notice, there is only one entrance to the clubhouse via the carpark entrance and only one exit facing the ground;
• Spectators must provide details for track and trace purposes and must adhere to the club's guidelines;
• Only a maximum of six persons allowed in the clubhouse at any one time;
• Please follow the one-way system as clearly shown in the clubhouse upon entering;
• Anyone residing in the Leicester Lockdown Zone must not attend. Anyone residing in the zone will be turned away.