WORCESTERSHIRE’S season has been struck by the coronavirus crisis with no professional cricket until May 28 at the earliest.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has approved a seven-week delay to the start of the 2020 season.

It follows discussions with the first-class counties, the MCC and the Professional Cricketers' Association.

Work has begun on possible revised schedules to begin in June, July or August.

COUPLE OF WORCESTERSHIRE PLAYERS SELF-ISOLATING

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: "During this period of deep uncertainty it is the ECB's first priority to protect the wellbeing of everyone within the cricket family, from players to fans and colleagues across the game.

"The decision to delay the start of the season has been essential, given the circumstances the nation faces.

"I am reassured by the collaborative effort from across the game that together we will make the very best of whatever length of season we are able to safely schedule in the coming months.

“With the information available to us at the moment a delay to the start of the professional cricket season until May 28 was unavoidable.

“This also allows us time to keep pace with a fast-moving situation and continue to plan for how a revised season might look.

“Critically, we can also remain as flexible and adaptable as possible, within the obvious restrictions we face.

“Securing the future of the game will be a primary focus as we plot a revised schedule with an emphasis on the most financially important forms of the game for the counties across international and domestic cricket.’’