Dhruv Redhu (front) and Hamish Burrill return to the training track for the first official training of season 2020/21.
The Camberwell Magpies have emerged from an elongated off-season for their first official club training session for season 2020/21 on Thursday night.
Following the announcement from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday about the easing of lock down restrictions, Cricket Victoria confirmed on the same day that community cricket training and matches in Metropolitan Melbourne could now commence for all age groups (both under-age and open-age).
Under strict COVID-19 training protocols, around 30 players made their return to McQueen Park on Thursday night for not only the first official session for the season, but also the first under the stewardship of new head coach, Ian Stanger.
In order to adhere to the strict conditions set out in the club's Community Cricket Return to Train and Play COVID-19 Plan, the senior playing group has been split into six training groups. Three of those groups had their first training session on Thursday, with the next three groups to begin their 2020/21 campaign on Saturday morning.
Prior to the easing of restrictions this week, the senior playing group has spent the past 10 weeks completing a strength and conditioning program devised by CMCC Strength & Conditioning Coach and former CMCC player, Ben McIntosh.
With the players now back on deck, the attention swiftly turns to an intensive four-week training block, which will include a practice match on Saturday November 14 (opponent and venue TBC) before the season kicks off on November 28 against St Kilda.
For more information on the club's COVID-safe return to training and matches, click here.
