The Oval and Edgbaston could face £50,000 losses following 11th-hour decision to halt cricket spectator trials
The Kia Oval and Edgbaston were estimated to be facing £50,000 losses each following Boris Johnson's 11th-hour decision to pull the plug on a second weekend of cricket spectator trials.
Up to 2,500 spectators - mainly members - were due to the first two days of this weekend's Bob Willis Trophy games in south London and Birmingham.
Richard Gould, chief executive at Surrey, estimated the club had already spent "about 50 grand" getting the Oval ready, with the 2,500 seats being disinfected by ground staff on Friday for the second round of matches with supporters since lockdown.
Gould had also invested in thermal-imaging cameras, similar to those at airports, for spectators on arrival and hand sanitising stations throughout the site.
"Most of the frustration is trying to understand it really, because the plans that we put in place were for a relatively modest number of people, given our capacity, and spread over a wide area," Gould told Telegraph Sport. "These are not stadia that are going to be packed to the gunnels. Densities are extremely light, but there's nothing we can do. We take it on the chin and wait for next time."
Despite the Prime Minister putting "the brake" on lockdown easing by abandoning crowd pilots, England and Wales Cricket Board does not believe England's behind-closed-door first Test with Pakistan on Wednesday at Emirates Old Trafford will be affected - even though extra restrictions now apply in Greater Manchester.
Surrey, meanwhile, are hopeful that spectators can start returning for their next home match, against Kent in three weeks.
"Two weeks is the minimum time frame," Gould added. "We've got our next home game on Aug 22 so that may be a possibility. It's so disappointing because we had 5,000 supporters coming in and the best part of 150 staff booked to come in as well. It's a shame for them as well in terms of lost work opportunities but I'm mainly sorry for the spectators, because having come last Sunday and Monday, they got a first taste and felt confident. It is disappointing, but there is nothing we can do other than be ready to go again, whenever the Government thinks it's possible."
Fixtures at the Oval and Edgbaston will go ahead behind closed doors today, the ECB confirmed. The Bob Willis Trophy, in which the 18 first-class counties have been split into three regional groups of six, is a red-ball tournament being played in place of the County Championship for one season only.
"We understand the reasons the Government has made this decision, and remain ready to work with them to ensure supporters can safely return to stadiums when Government advice allows," the ECB said.
