Here are the ECB's guidelines on recreational cricket ready for this weekend's return

Clubs in Sussex are making preparations already for games on Saturday, and now have clear direction on what they can and can't do.

England is currently in Step 4 of the Roadmap for the Return of Recreational Cricket.

Here are the guidelines:

- Matches can be 11-a-side but total group size including all coaches and officials must not exceed 30.

- Cricket matches adjusted to remain socially distanced

- Use own equipment throughout where possible and clean bat when leaving field of play

- No sweat or saliva to be applied to the ball at any time. Hands and ball should be cleaned at all breaks.

- Players to remain socially-distanced at all times (wicket keeper and slip fielders at 1m+)

- Use of the clubhouse, changing rooms and toilets should adhere to the latest UK Government advice

- Keep a record of all those in attendance at each session including contact details

- Batters to run at distinct running lines to ensure they are not within 2m from others

Hastings Priory CC tweeted: "Great news on number per side & no overs restrictions".

Here is the guidance for the umpires and scorers.

Before the game – Umpires and Scorers

1. If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 do not travel to the game and get a test.

2. Officials are encouraged to follow best practice for travel including avoiding use of car sharing and you should arrive changed.

3. Please ensure that you bring your own hand sanitiser and food and drink as the clubhouse may not be open.

4. On arrival at the ground you will need to provide your name & contact details for NHS Test & Trace.

5. The host club are responsible for the implementation of all facility guidelines (including the scorebox) as well as the provision of hand sanitation gel.

6. The host club are responsible for setting up the stumps which should also have been sanitised; the umpire is responsible for the provision of the bails.

7. To maintain social distancing, batting lines will be created.

8. All officials are encouraged to wash their hands/hand sanitise before play starts.

During the game – Scorers

1. Where possible, scoreboxes should not be used. As an alternative, the host club to consider providing a gazebo so scorers remain dry even if play continues during light rain; Consider using a small portable scoreboard instead of a full scoreboard, or alternatively have only one scorer inside the scorebox, with less frequent updating.

2. Scorers should remain socially distant from others at all times and specifically: In the scorebox if it is large enough for 2 scorers; When interacting with any players; ideally players should not be allowed in the scorebox; When interacting with other officials o During any interval or break in play

3. Equipment should not be shared including laptops and tablets.

4. Communal scorebooks which are passed from one person to another should be avoided.

5. Scorers will not hold any item of players clothing, sunglasses or any valuables.

6. Scorers will not collect/handle team subs.

7. Leagues using DLS will be advised to ensure that alternative arrangements are in place to calculate the result in the event that the DLS Par Score Tables cannot be produced electronically. Scorers should ensure that they have pen/paper to produce the necessary manual calculations and the outcome should be verified verbally with the umpires.

8. Where Scorer Pro is being used, scorer(s) can produce the relevant Par Score Table and save it as a pdf file that can be emailed to the captains and umpires if this is required.

9. Where D/L is being used, the captains should be encouraged to use the PlayCricket Scorer Apps to calculate the D/L Par Score. Guidance on how to use the App can be found here10. If a walkie-talkie is being used, usage should be kept to a minimum and only used by one of the two scorers. The equipment should be sanitised before use.

11.Scorers should either regularly wash their hands or use hand sanitiser.

12. In the event of rain, scorers should remain in the score box if that is where they are sitting, or return to their own vehicle if there is insufficient outdoor cover from the rain to maintain social distancing.

During the game - umpires

1. Umpires should remain socially distant from others at all times and specifically: At the toss; When interacting with any players; When interacting with other officials; During any interval or break in play

2. Umpires will ensure that all players maintain social distancing during the match and in particular, when players are fielding, discussing tactics, having refreshments or celebrating the fall of a wicket. Batters must remain on their lines.

3. No sweat or saliva on the ball is allowed under any circumstances.

4. Umpires will not deliberately touch the ball at all during play.

5. The ball will be returned direct to the bowler either on the full or rolled along the ground. It should not be passed around the field.

6. The umpires will not collect the ball at a fall of a wicket or at any breaks; instead, the ball will be returned to the base of the stumps.

7. Only umpires should replace bails and remake the wicket including after any attempted stumpings or run outs.

8. Umpires will not provide bowlers markers or cloths for drying the ball.

9. Players will be required to sanitise their hands after every 6 overs or 20 minutes whichever is shorter; the umpires should call “time” after every 6 overs or 20 minutes to facilitate this.

10.At each break, it will be the responsibility of the fielding Captain to sanitise the ball before play recommences. The umpires should ensure that this happens and manage these breaks by waiting until the end of the over or a fall of a wicket.

11. The umpires should sanitise their own hands at every drinks or innings break and after every contact with stumps or bails.

12. Umpires will not hold any item of players clothing or sunglasses. They will need to place these themselves beyond the boundary.

13. There is no requirement for officials to wear any form of PPE although some individuals may wish to do so.

14.Scientific research has shown that there is a minimal risk of infection when the bowler fleetingly passes the umpire so there is no need for the bowler’s end umpire to change his normal position or to move into position once the bowler has passed by.

15.Bowlers returning to their mark should maintain social distancing when passing the umpire.

16.Bowlers should maintain social distancing when making any appeals.

17. If a walkie-talkie is being used, usage should be kept to a minimum and only used by one of the two umpires. The equipment should be sanitised before use.

18. In the event of rain, umpires must remove the stumps and bails before the covers are pulled on. Umpires should return to their own vehicle if there is insufficient outdoor cover from the rain to maintain social distancing.