[Eddie Norfolk, Toronto, 12 July 2020] The Toronto and District Cricket Association has posted plans on facebook for cricket to make a start in Ontario this season with a “MLCC 6-a-Side” cricket tournament. The tournament is to involve 16 teams with play starting on 18th July at Maple Leaf Cricket Club (MLCC) in King City, Ontario.
News of this event was posted on Saturday (11 July) and has been enthusiastically received by several people, including a “like” from the President of Cricket Ontario. Team entries and payment participation fees ($350 per team) are due to be made by 14 July 2020. Each team is allowed six playing members plus two others as potential substitutes. The 16 teams will be divided into four groups of four teams with one set of round-robin matches in each group.

Cricket Ontario Still to Announce “Safe Return to play Guideline”?
Meanwhile, Cricket Ontario’s “Resumption of the Cricket Activities” website message to the Cricket Community in Ontario” remains unchanged since the website post on May 29, 2020 that included the following guidance:
‘Please be advised that Cricket Ontario has not release any date for the resumption of the cricket activities in the province. Based on the guidelines of the provincial government and public health authorities, the suspension of all in person Cricket Ontario Programs for the summer remains in effect till further notice.’
‘Cricket Ontario remains committed to the safety of all players, officials, and its members and we are continuing to monitor the situation.’
‘Cricket Ontario is finalizing its “Safe Return to play Guideline” and will be ready when restrictions are lifted by the government. When that time comes, we will be ready to resume to play cricket with protocol to ensure the safety of all members.’
‘Stay tuned, Stay Safe, Stay Healthy’
The website post was attributed to the ‘Cricket Ontario Executives’
Possibly there is a “finalized” version of the planned Cricket Ontario Guideline document that is close enough to known Canadian and Ontario standards that is in circulation and has been considered by the T&DCA in their 6-a-side initiative.

Cricket Ontario featured in “Wickets”
Cricket Ontario Website’s most recent website news was about the outcome of elections during the recent Cricket Ontario Annual General Meeting. The June 2020 issue of “Wickets” includes a feature article about how cricket continued to progress during 2019 in Ontario. Growth that is expected to continue in future years.
Sadly during these pandemic times in the bigger scheme of life in Ontario and across Canada the constitutional divide between what are primarily the responsibility of the federal Government of Canada and those matters deemed to be primarily the responsibility of a provincial or territorial government tend, too often, to toss and turn like a small boat on a stormy sea. Somewhere along the way the municipalities, cities, towns and regions have to keep going without necessarily knowing some of the specifics of what may be allowed tomorrow or even in two days time, which seems to be the deadline for entries for next weekend’s T&DCA 6-A-Side.
Meanwhile, I will conclude my early Sunday morning thoughts with the hope that you all stay safe and healthy, or that you recover if you are currently not feeling that well. Some may be looking for some reduction in the heat and humidity mix that I, for one, certainly do not enjoy.
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