The “new normal” has taken over all our lives in the last few months, but signs of a return to a traditional cricketing summer are beginning to show.

After sport was shutdown in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Government gave the approval for a number of test events on July 17 which would see the gradual return of spectators.

Less than 10 days later, the long break finally came to an end, with all eyes on the Kia Oval as 1,000 fans made their way through the gates for a friendly between Surrey and Middlesex.

While football’s return was epitomised by the masks, gloves and hygienic protocols needed to get sport underway again, the Oval was an altogether calmer environment.

Surrey head coach Vikram Solanki felt the experiment was a worthwhile experience and welcomed the return of people in the ground.

He said: “Everyone has been starved of cricket during the summer and it doesn’t quite feel like a summer without cricket around and the fact that we were able to get out there today in reasonable weather, was great and it certainly served it’s purpose.

“The fact that we’ve had the crowd in today, I know that’s taken a huge amount of work and for the members to be here, I’m sure will give them a certain amount of pleasure that they were seeing some live cricket.

“A huge amount of credit must go to the staff who were able to put this on and get us out there and be able to get the crowd in as well.”