DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie Cricket Club have set their sights on being ready to step up to the crease if a return to action is given the green light.

President Martin Honeyford is keeping his fingers crossed that, if coronavirus restrictions begin to ease in line with a continued increase in numbers being vaccinated, there may be a season of bowling, batting and run-scoring ahead.

After the pandemic hit 12 months ago, cricket was just one of the sports which were affected, and the season in Scotland was decimated.

The competitive campaign – which, in 2019, had resulted in Dunfermline and Carnegie's first team crowned champions of the East of Scotland Cricket Association (ESCA) East Division Four – was called off entirely.

With guidance from Cricket Scotland, sportscotland and the Scottish Government, cricket was given the go-ahead to resume at a local level in August but league and cup competitions remained off the calendar.

Dunfermline and Carnegie did manage to play matches against local rivals, Broomhall, and Falkland, while their junior section also managed to see some action.

It remains to be seen as what any potential 2021 season across the ESCA will look like, or when it would begin, but Cricket Scotland have announced some updated guidance for activity.

Last week, they said that up to 30 juniors (under the age of 12) could take part in outdoor, non-contact sport or exercise, with that number including coaches, while up to 15 people aged 12-and-over could do likewise.

Speaking to Press Sport, Mr Honeyford said: "It was just so disappointing last year. The games are usually starting the last week in April, first week in May, so if things go according to Scottish Government plans, we should maybe do it but I'd have to check with the East of Scotland and Cricket Scotland.

"The plans are there – you're just waiting on someone saying you can go and do it. If we get going, and people see, you'll get more people coming along because they'll be desperate to play. That could improve memberships.

"But it's getting going at the start that's the problem – we just can't get going.

"We're hoping to be prepared and ready to go so when we are given the authority, you can go and play, we're bang on it. The guys are keen to get going."

Meanwhile, the club has announced that the Purvis Group have agreed to continue their sponsorship of the club for a further two years.

The deal will ensure their senior and junior members will be kitted out in new shirts, and Mr Honeyford added: "That was just brilliant that Mr Purvis did that, considering we didn't get any cricket really played last year, so to get the renewal this year is absolutely fantastic."