DDBBL hopeful of sticking to plans

ORGANISERS have set key dates ahead of the second Darling Downs Bush Bash League.

The DDBBL hopes it is all systems go for season two. Picture: File

CRICKET: The Darling Downs Bush Bash League is pushing ahead with its plans for its second season.

After the success of year one, league officials have advised of key dates to take place in the coming months.

As is the nature of the community and sporting landscape at the moment, they are relying on government restrictions being relaxed.

However, DDBBL co-ordinator Kent Reimers said they will go about business as usual, and head into the year ahead with intent of it going ahead.

“At the moment, plans are quite fluid, but we think we’ve got contingencies in place if things don’t work out,” Reimers said.

“As everyone has seen with coronavirus, things can change day to day, so we're as planned as we can be, and have plans B and C.”

As it stands, the captains draft has been scheduled for July 10 and the player draft to take place on August 28.

Reimers said that while there were some doubts on the first scheduled event, they have a backup plan to get them through.

“It is most likely that the captains draft can’t happen in July, but we’re hopeful of the players draft in late August,” he said.

“If they can’t go ahead we will look it doing it remotely by Skype or Zoom, or pushing the captains draft back to the players draft.

“The message we want to get out is that we’re proceeding as if everything will go ahead.

“We want players that are planning on nominating to keep an eye out for when they open.”

The season is scheduled to run from September 13 with the grand final to be held on October 18.

Reimers said that would take every measure possible to try and make this season match their first.

“We want to make it as good, if not better than last year, but obviously there are some roadblocks,” he said.

“However we’ll do everything we can to go ahead. It could well work out that the DDBBL is the first sport back in Toowoomba once COVID-19 ends. If that was the case we’d love to put on a good show for people.”

In regards to possible delays to the start of the season, Reimers said it would be something assessed further down the line if required.

“Because this is all unprecedented, we don’t know how other cards will fall,” he said.

“If the cricket season goes ahead as planned it won’t leave us many options with rep cricket kicking in.

“With our current window we pick up quite a few Brisbane players who come over before their season starts.”

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