Edgbaston to host second spectator pilot game

Manchester: Edgbaston will be the second county cricket ground to pilot the safe return of spectators and test Government guidance designed to enable the return of fans to elite sports events.

The Government announced on Friday that two county cricket friendly matches would be among a number of pilot events to test Government guidance for supporters returning to sporting venues. The friendly between Surrey and Middlesex at the Kia Oval, which takes place on July 26 and 27, was named as the first pilot. The second has now been announced as the Warwickshire v Worcestershire friendly at Edgbaston which starts on July 27.

A maximum of 1,000 spectators will be allowed per day for the pilot. The Kia Oval will host supporters for both days of the two-day friendly, while Edgbaston will host supporters on the second day only.

The Government announced the pilots to stress-test its guidance on the return of fans to elite sports events in order to build up to and prepare for the full, socially distanced, return of sporting events from October 1, 2020