The impact of the coronavirus means there will be no sound of leather on willow and no hardy supporters wrapped up in woollies braving the bitter early-season conditions.

Last week the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that no professional cricket would be played before May 28 at the earliest.

The traditional County Championship, comprising four-day first-class matches, has long had to co-exist with a range of other limited-overs, or white-ball, formats.

The immediate focus is on options for cricket in June including the three-Test series against West Indies, the Twenty20 Blast and the England Women's schedule against India.

Pakistan are also due to play three Tests later in the English summer and Australia have been booked in for several limited-overs matches.

Read the AFP report here.