England's cricketers are set to return to formal training on an individual basis from next week following the publication of revised guidelines.
The season is yet to get underway, and the lengthy delay because of the coronavirus will have a huge impact on what unfolds next.
Here is a look at what that means, how it works and what other impact coronavirus has had on the sport.
Will there be live cricket in England soon?
England hope to squeeze in a near full international campaign despite the lengthy setbacks.
Government approval and the willingness of touring teams to travel are the key variables but if all goes to plan, the England and Wales Cricket Board hopes to host the delayed three-match Test series against the West Indies, with matches starting on July 8, 16 and 24.
A great deal of planning has gone into the issue of 'bio-security' and the all-in-one locations at the Ageas Bowl and Emirates Old Trafford (which both house training facilities and hotels) will be used for matches.
The England women's team are hoping to begin training towards the end of June but domestic cricket looks a long way off. The county season has been pushed back to August 1 at the earliest, with a variety of shortened-season models being assessed, including regionally divided competitions.
How will training work and who is involved?
A bumper group of 55 - the core squad members augmented by 14 uncapped players and a host of fringe options - have been chosen to resume training by England.
The initial cohort of 18 bowlers will work alongside a maximum support team of one coach, one physio and a strength and conditioning specialist.
Sessions will take place at up to 11 first-class venues, with players encouraged to visit only those closest to their homes.
Batsmen and wicketkeepers, followed by a selection of white-ball specialists, will follow as the ECB prepares for the possibility of format-specific squads this summer. Coaching staff from across the county network have been co-opted to assist.
What safety precautions are in place?
The ECB has set out a series of measures which it believes makes the environment as safe as possible.
Players and support staff must attend training in full kit, observe social distancing and take temperature checks on arrival. Any medical treatment will be delivered with the use of full personal protective equipment and will be outdoors where weather-conditions permit. Director of cricket Ashley Giles says the process should make it safer than a trip to the supermarket.
Why has The Hundred been postponed?
The decision was made for three primary reasons: the likely unavailability of overseas talent, the probability of empty stadiums should any cricket be possible this summer and the logistical challenges caused by the amount of operations staff currently on furlough at host venues.
For a competition explicitly designed to grow the profile of the sport and draw new fans - inside grounds and on television - the problems represented a perfect storm.
Will cricket be played behind closed doors?
The decision-makers began looking at this eventuality early on and determined it would be the only viable solution to get international cricket back.
Test captain Joe Root has already spoken about the wrench he would feel if fans were kept away, but needs must. At domestic level, the idea of a limited-number of fans attending has not been ruled out, and the matter will be reviewed by the Professional Game Group.
How different could cricket look?
The time honoured method of shining the ball using saliva has drawn the attention of the ICC's medical advisory committee. Both have recommended banning the practice for the time being.
Sweat will be allowed, as it is deemed to present a lesser risk, while Australian manufacturer Kookaburra's idea of a wax applicator appears to have fallen on deaf ears. On the field there will be no hugs, handshakes or close-up celebrations and umpires have been instructed not to take jumpers or caps from bowlers.
What about the World Test Championship?
After years of deliberation, the International Cricket Council finally pulled the trigger on a codified tournament for the most prestigious format. The first final is due to be played at Lord's in June 2021, but the prospect of completing all scheduled series in time seems a stretch. Behind the scenes, the ICC is currently engaged in contingency planning, but with no real time pressure the specifics do not need to be settled imminently.
And what of the Twenty20 World Cup in October?
The idea of inviting 16 teams to seven host cities in Australia in October seems a highly ambitious one and there is a growing acceptance, be it from England captain Eoin Morgan or Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts, that a delay is imminent.
The ICC board were due to debate the matter in depth this week but pushed the subject back to its next meeting after getting sidetracked by an internal row over 'confidentiality'.
What impact does all this have financially?
The ECB suggests the crisis could cost it an eye-watering £380million (Dh1722m), with a minimum loss of around £100m. Nevertheless it has approved a financial stimulus package worth £61m to support the game.
England's centrally contracted players have donated £500,000 back to the game, executives have taken pay cuts and a collective agreement has been thrashed out between the Professional Cricketers' Association, the ECB and the 18 first-class counties.
County cricketers accepted "maximum reductions" in their salaries during April and May while also agreeing to waive £1m in prize money this year.
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What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
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She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
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Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
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The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
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The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
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Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
