The region's cricket players and supporters may be thinking about what could have been this weekend, ahead of the first scheduled games that will no longer be taking place.

The cricket season was due to start on Saturday as Netherfield were scheduled to host Chorley while Kendal had an away game at Northern League Champions Leyland.

However with the coronavirus pandemic, the league season remains suspended until further notice, a decision which also affects the Palace Shield and Westmorland Cricket League competitions.

Netherfield prior to the pandemic had signed New Zealander Matt McKewan as their new professional while Daniel Burnett had been brought is as their overseas amateur.

And the club had announced the re signings of Nathan Chambers as well as Tom Williamson, two players who were part of the title winning squad in 2017.

Kendal themselves were due to go into the new campaign with huge optimism after avoiding relegation as well as going on a winning run which included a stunning last day of the season victory over derby rivals Netherfield.

The Auld Greys had signed Indian slow left arm spinner Barghav Batt as club professional while they acquired the services of Australian Michael Toolis as overseas amateur.

Kendal had further strengthened their squad with the signing of former Cumberland batsman Michael Stables who had previously played for Cockermouth.

In the Westmorland Cricket League, Carnforth who won Division One were set to begin the defence of their title, while the other divisions as well as the junior leagues were preparing to get their seasons underway.

And with the country in lockdown no one knows when or if the season will start, however as yet the league campaign has not been cancelled as all clubs will be waiting to see how things progress over the coming weeks and months.

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