Cricket Victoria proposes new Premier clubs Under-18 competition
A new Premier Cricket underage competition is in the works as Cricket Victoria revamps its pathway for talented young players. But, as the proposal gathers momentum, it is still not certain of returning next season.
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A new Premier Cricket underage competition is in the works as Cricket Victoria revamps its so-called pathway for young players.
The competition would ideally be for under 18s and run by the Premier clubs.
It would sit above the under-16 Youth Premier League, a statewide series involving players from the 16 CV regions; the under-15 John Craig Shield, operated by Sub-District clubs; and under-14 association carnivals.
CV has had to restructure its elite underage cricket model after deep staff cuts made last month.
It has led to the YPL under-14 and under-18 competitions being jettisoned, creating fears talented young players will be overlooked for development opportunities.
Last season the YPL had 96 teams and 1080 players.
The under-16 YPL competition is still no certainty to return next season with CV waiting on funding decisions from Cricket Australia, which could see it “paused” until 2021-22.
CV’s high performance manager Dean Russ said under a framework being devised by Cricket Victoria, the association competitions would be a player’s first step in representative cricket.
He said CV coaching specialists would help the associations identify players.
“Sport in general has probably been a little bit guilty of creating an expectation pathway at too young an age,’’ Russ said.
“By letting them play in an association uplifting that, we’re hoping it takes away the pressure of being in a Cricket Victoria pathway at the age of 13.’’
He said the under-16 YPL series was of “utmost importance’’, taking in country and metropolitan talents.
Russ said the proposed Premier competition was “almost like the finishing school’’, helping with the transition into senior cricket.
“Where we think this works really well is for country players or players who aren’t in a position to commit to Premier Cricket at that 16, 17, 18 age group, whether they’ve been doing VCE or an apprenticeship,’’ Russ said.
“They can come down and get a taste of playing at a club and get a feel of its culture and play in an underage competition without having to commit to a whole season.’’
He said the proposed new underage pathway would have players representing their associations at a young age group, being “challenged and exposed’’ in the statewide competition at 15 and 16, and then moving to Premier Cricket at 17 and 18.
Options for the underage Premier competition include fixturing matches every third Sunday or in a block in January.
“There has been talk it could align with the club championship to make sure that it is put as a prestigious competition,’’ Russ said.
“Nothing is set in stone here. There’s still a fair bit of water to go under the bridge.’’
Russ acknowledged the “anxiety’’ that CV was removing the underage pathway.
But he said Cricket Victoria was confident in its staff and programs.
“One thing I haven’t lost sleep over is this model,’’ he said.
“I think there’s a real opportunity to connect better with associations and make sure we are working together.’’
Russ said the girls pathway would operate to the same framework but with an under-15 YPL instead.
The Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association, Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union, Victorian Country Cricket League, Premier Cricket strategy chairs and CV Board have been briefed and are supportive of the proposal.
VMCU president Mark Keating said they were awaiting further confirmation on whether the YPL would proceed but were well prepared to run expanded representative carnivals over the first two weeks of January if it didn’t.
More than 1350 boys and girls across 15 associations and 113 teams participated in VMCU carnivals earlier this year.
“The VMCU carnivals really underpin the YPL,” Keating said.
“It’s a really good opportunity, and takes kids out of their comfort zone to play against kids of a similar ability.”
VCCL president Kelvin White said while they were also awaiting a final decision, country regions were prepared to play against themselves if the YPL didn’t proceed this season.
He said there would be a renewed emphasis on junior country week competitions across each of the regions this year which would help lift the standard with kids who have traditionally missed playing due to YPL commitments able to participate.
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