Looking forward to golden summer on Yorkshire’s village cricket greens

Among those particularly interested in what Boris Johnson has to say will be club cricketers everywhere as the countdown continues towards the new season.

Attention will be no more focused than in the Bradford League, where they are working towards the best-case scenario of starting their fixtures on April 17.

Leagues throughout Yorkshire are also aiming to start on or around that time, although matters are necessarily fluid as we await confirmation from No 10 with the possibility of delayed starts and adapted play due to the Covid restrictions.

Keith Moss, the Bradford League president and a former Yorkshire County Cricket Club chairman, says that several options are being considered by his own league.

“The league has prepared three, if not four possible scenarios, from an immediate start in April to various abridged versions, if you like, during the season,” he said.

“Whether we can start in April remains to be seen; clubs have had no indoor nets, and obviously outdoor nets wouldn’t start until March and we’ve got to look at the practicalities of how quickly clubs can turn it on and play competitive cricket.

“But, God willing, I’m pretty sure there will be some meaningful cricket, and we now await government guidelines as to when, how and if we can press the button.

“There’s a great sense of optimism about the coming season, even though it is sure to bring a lot of pressures and issues to be tackled.

“However, I think that with ingenuity, planning and goodwill all round, we can get over any difficulties and the message at the Bradford League is – we’