Shropshire’s National County 50-over Showcase fixture against Derbyshire, which had been scheduled to take place at the Incora County Ground next Tuesday, July 20, has been cancelled.

It follows a positive COVID-19 test result for a member of Derbyshire’s playing squad, which, under COVID-19 protocols, has meant 14 close contacts are currently observing a ten-day self-isolation period, while a further six players remain sidelined through injury.

Derbyshire's County Championship match against Essex was abandoned after the opening day, following a lateral flow test last Sunday evening, conducted as part of Derbyshire's regular programme of self-testing. A subsequent PCR test returned the same result.

As well as the fixture against Shropshire, Derbyshire’s Vitality Blast matches at Northamptonshire on Friday and at home to Yorkshire on Sunday have both been cancelled by the England & Wales Cricket Board.

The ECB has determined that Derbyshire is unable to field a team of a strength appropriate to maintain the integrity of the two remaining group matches and of the competition as a whole.

The Showcase games between the 20 National Counties Cricket Association clubs and the first-class counties were introduced to the fixture list last season.

But all of last season’s matches - Shropshire had initially been scheduled to play Derbyshire at Shifnal Cricket Club last July - were cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Shropshire County Cricket Club chairman John Hulme said: “We had been looking forward to playing Derbyshire, but the decision for next Tuesday’s match to be cancelled is of course entirely understandable in the circumstances.

“We send our very best wishes to everyone at Derbyshire County Cricket Club and wish them well for the remainder of the season.

“We hope that it may be possible for the match to be played next season.”