Cricket Gold Coast overhauls development pathway to align with Gold Coast Dolphins

Cricket Gold Coast has overhauled its draws, development pathways and some rules for the 2022-23 season in a bid to provide greater opportunities for players to excel. HERE IS HOW IT AFFECTS YOU >

CRICKET Gold Coast has overhauled its draws, development pathways and some rules for the 2022-23 season in a bid to provide greater opportunities for players to excel.

The Bulletin revealed last week that the governing body had made the decision to bring in a third grade team from the GoldCoast Dolphins, who operate under the Queensland Cricket Association, into its T20 first grade competition for the next season.

It is part of a strengthened connection to the Dolphins and now the Bulletin can reveal the other measures that will be broughtin to further align the two associations as CGC steers away from using Country Cricket as its preferred representation pathway.

“We are committed to having our pathways go through the Dolphins. That is representative cricket for juniors and seniors,” Cricket Gold Coast president Ryan Kettle said.

“With the seniors there are a few little things we are doing like having a Dolphins team as part of our T20 competition.

Nathan Reardon in action on day 2 of the Cricket Gold Coast Kookaburra Cup Grand Final.

“We are also looking at our draw so it lines up with QCA better. That will enable players who are at the next level with theDolphins get an opportunity to play for their (CGC) club team when available.

“If they are not selected with the Dolphins they can come back and play for their local club.

“We have also looked at the format to align it better with QCA. For instance, our two-day cricket games have previously beencompulsory declaration which is a longer form of limited overs.

“With compulsory declarations it used to be 80 overs but this season the only rule will be a minimum of 80 overs. It meansteams can bat longer and it brings in a win, lose and draw result and teams will need to get 10 wickets.

“This will encourage more attacking bowling and cricket. Our one dayers will stay at 40 overs.

“Because they will be playing a similar style of cricket to the QCA Dolphins teams players who move on to the next level willalready be accustomed to it.”

Shock axing: Club dumped from T20 competition

BONOGIN have been dumped from the Gold Coast Cricket first grade T20 competition but move pales in comparison to the other challenges the club is facing.

Cricket Gold Coast have made the decision to oust Bonogin from the shorter format in order to bring in a Gold Coast Dolphins side made up of its third and fourth grade players as part of a bid to enhance the alignment between CGC and GCD.

It is a huge blow to Bonogin who accepted an offer from the governing body to play in the competition last season and planned return.

“The (CGC) board needs to be looking after its 16 member clubs before the third grade Dolphins team,” Bonogin president Jake Savage said.

Bevan Marks starred for Bonogin’s fifth grade team last season. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“We respect the decision but it’s not ideal for us trying to move forward.”

Cricket Gold Coast president Ryan Kettle said removing Bonogin was a tough decision but one that was done with the best interests in mind for the sport in the city.

“The Dolphins don’t play T20 games at all and they are keen to get their guys some more experience in that format,” Kettle said.

“It benefits both parties. It gives them a chance to experience T20 more and helps with our player pathways and giving guys a chance to work towards playing with the Dolphins.”

“No one likes to have to give clubs the bad news. Bonogin are a growing club but at this stage we just feel the benefit of having the Dolphins in the competition outweighs that at this stage.

Savage said the disappointing decision was the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Bonogin’s challenges.

The 2022-23 season will be Bonogin’s fifth in existence and after starting with just three teams the club will boast 10 this year.

The club has outgrown its Davenport Park base and desperately needs a turf wicket and a clubhouse in order to avoid stagnating and potentially declining.

They have been in talks with Gold Coast City Council about moving into Firth Park in Mudgeeraba once it is redeveloped but that could be years away while D’Arcy Doyle Park has been touted as another option but Mudgeeraba & Nerang Districts have right of use for that ground.

“We feel there are a lot of hurdles in our way,” Savage said.

“Davenport is where we currently play but its unsuitable for a turf wicket. As a club we have done a good job in recruiting and retaining players but not having a turf ground and a clubhouse makes things very hard.

Savage said the club had also discussed shifting home games to other clubs but were told by Cricket Gold Coast they would incur and $8000 fee to help maintain the grounds.