THE first part of Glamorgan's scheduled double-header in Newport has been cancelled after a further delay to the start of the domestic cricket season, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Welsh county were meant to entertain Yorkshire on Friday, July 31 in the Royal London Cup before welcoming Nottinghamshire on Sunday, August 2.

The first of those white ball clashes is definitely off after the England and Wales Cricket Board ruled that no games will take place before the start of August.

The season had already been delayed twice but the previous holding date of July 1 has been pushed back another month as the uncertainty of coronavirus continues to wreak havoc with the schedule.

While hopes are high that England will be able to begin their international fixtures on July 8 in a heavily controlled 'bio-secure' environment, the ability to host many more matches up and down the country with fewer resources represents a more complex equation.

Glamorgan chief executive Hugh Morris, said: "Friday would have marked the start of our Blast campaign with a trip to Chelmsford, and Sunday would have seen us host the first Blast game of 2020 at Sophia Gardens with Surrey set to visit us.

"We are naturally disappointed, like all cricket fans, that we are still unable to enjoy the game and support our sides.

"We have been working tirelessly at Glamorgan to make sure that when cricket eventually returns that we will be ready for it.

"We are as keen as ever to begin the season, in whatever guise that may be, and welcome our fans through the gates, but we also understand that health and safety must remain the number one priority.

"We will continue to work closely with the ECB and the Welsh Government on how to ensure that any return to cricket is safe for our players, for fans, and protects the best interests of the club beyond this unique 2020 season."

A statement from the ECB said: "The ambition remains to host domestic men's and women's cricket" in the coming months, with the Professional Game Group in charge of outlining several options for how the 2020 season could play out.

It will present its ideas to the ECB board in June, with the idea of regionalised groups on the table in first-class cricket and some consideration being given to having a small number of fans in attendance. Streaming matches for viewers at home is also on the agenda.

The recreational game remains under suspension but the ECB will look to liaise with the government on an earlier return for junior cricket.