By Nick Creely
After a stringent process by the Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA), a restructuring of the Turf, Synthetic and Junior Competitions has been mooted for the 2018/19 season.
Essentially, the association hopes to adopt eight-teams per grade model similar to that of neighbouring competition such as West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA) and the newly restructured Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association (MPCA) which, until last year, was a 12-side competition.
So what does this mean for clubs?
– In a normal 21-week season, each team would play the other seven sides in their grade twice, once in a two-day game and once in a one-day match.
– The reduction in teams per grade is considered a fairer and more balanced model and affords teams a greater opportunity to play in finals.
– To achieve the model, the bottom four sides at the conclusion of the 2017/2018 season will be removed from Turf 1 and placed with the top four teams in Turf 2 to form the Turf 2 grade. The bottom eight sides in Turf 2 would move into Turf 3 and so on until all turf grades had eight teams.
– If a shortfall in teams existed in the bottom turf grade, then consideration will be given to creating a composite turf grade by including the required number of synthetic sides.
– The Match Committee will have discretion to adjust teams throughout the grades as is seen necessary (e.g. new sides being entered).
– The advent of eight teams per grade will also flow through to the senior synthetic and junior grades. The only difference will be that clubs will nominate their preferred grades as usual and the Match Committee will adjust as necessary, based on history.
– As the senior fixtures would contain more one-day games, the future of the designated One-day Competition will also be reviewed.
One of many issues to surface and likely to be a major discussion – particularly from clubs – is the fact that for clubs competing in Turf 2-7 this season, they will essentially be playing without the possibility of promotion.
Another issue that has been raised is how it impacts on the short-term strategies of clubs, the development of younger players and the financial incentive of signing big name players to clubs not in the top-grade.
The first opportunity to discuss the proposed changes will be on 27 September, with the DDCA holding a coaches and captains meeting.
