By BRAD McGRATH
PREMIER Cricket has bowed to pressure from its clubs to minimise Sunday play.
At the Cricket Victoria delegates meeting last Monday night, club delegates also endorsed the pennant committee’s recommendation to reduce the hours of play in the two-day format from 100 to 90 overs per day.
Premier Cricket men’s co-ordinator Peter Binns said first and second XI two-day matches will start at noon. Previously, the first ball was bowled at 11am.
The delegates also voted in favour of the re-inclusion of Twenty20 matches into the season proper.
There had been a growing concern among Premier Cricket and club officials that the length of play and Sunday commitments were driving players away from the competition.
Binns said the changes were made in the best interests of player and volunteer retention, with just two Sundays expected to be used in the season proper. “It’s always a request from the clubs and it’s a balancing act – most of the clubs want to play every other club in the competition and you can’t do that without some Sunday play.
“Also it’s a big commitment from the older guys and the volunteers and it’s a balancing act. I think that it worked out pretty well.
“They pretty much adopted what the pennant committee put forward.”
Binns said there had been robust discussion on the reduction of play to 90 overs per day, with players marginally in favour of keeping it at 100.
“It was important in an attempt to keep some of the older guys around a bit longer,” he said.
“Just trying to look after our volunteers is also an issue. There was a fair bit of debate and discussion but generally speaking the clubs understand the reasons for it. I guess in one way it is an acknowledgement that we’re not trying to replicate the first-class systems.”
Binns also confirmed that the team batting first in Premier Cricket finals would have its innings capped at 100 overs from this season.
For all the latest breaking news, visit greaterdandenongweekly.com.au. Also, follow the Greater Dandenong Weekly at facebook.com/greaterdandenongweekly or on Twitter @DandenongWeekly.
