The ECB has published a Return To Cricket Plan and below is a summary of the key points. If you want to read the whole plan click on ECB Plan
For all activity, the relevant UK Government social distancing guidance should be adhered to at all times (including throughout warm-ups) except in the following limited circumstances during competitive play where social distancing of 1m+ is permitted: 1) wicket keepers standing up to the stumps and 2) distance between slip fielders.
Prior to all cricket activity
• Personal hygiene measures should be carried out at home before and after cricket activity.
• Participants should bring their own hand sanitiser and maintain strict and frequent hand hygiene measures at all times.
• The clubhouse and changing rooms will remain closed. Please arrive in your cricket gear.
• Club representatives should make all participants aware of the increase in transmission risk associated with partaking in even socially distanced group activity and should ensure that all participants are clear that they are opting to participate in cricket activity.
During all cricket activity
• Cricket activity must take place outdoors only.
• 11-a-side cricket can return as long as groups are limited to a maximum of 30 participants, including coaches and officials.
• Participants should enter the site and prepare their personal equipment whilst maintaining social distancing.
• Where possible players should limit sharing of equipment. If they do, they must practise strict hand hygiene before and after use and the equipment must be cleaned before use by another person.
• No sweat or saliva is to be applied to the ball at any time.
• All participants should sanitise their hands prior to the start of the activity.
• Hand sanitiser should be used at all breaks in activity and prior to consuming any food or drinks.
• Players should refrain from spitting or rinsing out their mouths.
• Individuals should bring their own food and drink for ‘teas’ or practice. Water bottles or other refreshment containers should not be shared.
After all cricket activity
• All participants should sanitise their hands after the completion of activity.
• A ‘hygiene break’ should take place every six overs or every 20 minutes, whichever is sooner, in which the ball is cleaned with an antimicrobial wipe, which the club will provide, and all participants’ hands are cleaned using a suitable sanitiser. This routine should also be followed at the start of any drinks break or the close of an innings. The responsibility for sanitising the ball during the match will lie with the fielding captain, not the umpire.
• Batters to sanitise their bat when leaving the field of play and Wicket Keepers should sanitise their gloves.
• Bowlers should not hand any personal items to the umpire. Bowlers should place these items at the boundary themselves.
• Batters are to run in distinct running lines to ensure they are not within 2m of the bowler or other batter. Lines to be marked on the square on either side of the wicket.
• Social distancing must always be maintained including during post-wicket celebrations, drinks breaks and tactical discussions.
• Minimise sharing of the ball in a match by limiting contact as the ball makes its way back to the bowler e.g. ball goes straight from wicketkeeper to bowler instead of around surrounding fielders.
• In the event of rain, participants should return to their own vehicle to maintain social distancing if there is insufficient outdoor cover from the rain to maintain social distancing.
Umpires
• Umpires should refrain from any contact with the ball, it can be returned to the base of the stumps at breaks and wickets.
• Umpires should be responsible for the stumps closest to them and should be the only person replacing the bails if dislodged.