YORKSHIRE have furloughed their entire playing squad and the vast majority of their cricket staff until further notice, as the coronavirus crisis continues to have a major impact on English cricket.

The decision, which is expected to save in the region of £50-60,000 per month, comes after the club last month furloughed the majority of its non-playing staff as part of the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Each player and coach, including first-team coach Andrew Gale, was contacted by director of cricket Martyn Moxon following a board meeting on Friday.

Moxon, who has not been furloughed, said: “First and foremost, there is a bigger picture than cricket, and it is vitally important that people stay safe, stay healthy and support the NHS in any way possible. We are in the midst of a national crisis, and cricket is secondary at this moment.

“From a club point of view, we feel that these measures need to be taken to ensure as little damage as possible to the business.

“The players are disappointed not to be playing, as they have worked hard during the winter and have been excited about the season ahead.

“However, they are all fully understanding of the club’s decision, and we hope that the situation improves as quickly as possible to ensure that everyone can resume some kind of normality.”

All of Yorkshire’s non-playing and playing staff will continue to receive 100 percent of their monthly salary for the period of furloughing.

The government scheme sees them pay 80 per cent of an employee’s salary up to £2,500 per month, with the extra 20 per cent made up by the employer if they choose to do so.

Yorkshire have chosen to do so and will top up anyone’s salary going beyond that threshold.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have stated there will be no cricket played before May 28 at the earliest, and the furloughing of the players means Yorkshire can’t enforce things such as stay at home fitness programmes.

Although with the prospect of cricket later in the summer, it is obviously in the players’ best interests to maintain their fitness.

The squad will not be permitted to undertake things such as media duties during the furloughing period.

Moxon and cricket operations manager Cecilia Allen have not been furloughed, while four of the ground staff, including Andy Fogarty, continue to work at Emerald Headingley, Weetwood and Bradford Park Avenue.

Yorkshire’s physiotherapy team also continue to work as they are not employed by the club directly. They work for the business owned by ex-England and Yorkshire head physio Wayne Morton.