Surrey optimistic cricket will resume this summer as club keep an eye on 2021

Surrey are hopeful of some county cricket this summer but the recession that has been widely predicted to grip the country over the next few months has sharpened minds towards next year and beyond.

A pre-tax profit of £6.3million for the 2019/20 financial year has helped them weather the storm of the coronavirus pandemic, as Surrey and Lancashire have been the only two counties not to furlough any playing staff.

Professional cricket is on hold until at least July 1 and priority at first will be given to the international game, with the England and Wales Cricket Board preparing ‘biosecure’ environments necessary to stage fixtures.

However, the ECB has not drawn a line through county cricket and is confident some red and white-ball games can be organised as part of a revamped schedule, with the T20 Blast taking precedence.

While England are initially hoping to host matches behind closed doors, Gould admitted the measure cannot be a long-term one for Surrey, with people coming to the ground making up 90 per cent of their revenue.

The Oval was due to be one of the eight venues for the inaugural edition of The Hundred this summer but the public health crisis has led to a 12-month postponement of the ECB’s flagship competition.