Diamond Valley Cricket Association considers two-day fixtures in 2020-21
With most cricket competitions set to be filled with one-day matches amid the coronavirus crisis, one local association is considering longer-form games. Here’s how it could happen.
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The Diamond Valley Cricket Association has floated the prospect of Saturday-Sunday fixtures in 2020-21 to offset a late start to the campaign.
But the move will hinge on the season starting in November amid the coronavirus crisis, while the association will also rely heavily on club feedback.
In a COVID-19 update sent to affiliates last week, Cricket Victoria said it expected training to be allowed from October 26, while November 14 has been earmarked for Round 1.
If that comes to fruition, the DVCA is eyeing a fixture comprising five two-day matches (all played on the same weekend) and nine one-day games.
It would apply to the competition’s top-six grades – Barclay Shield, Money Shield, Mash Shield, B Grade, C Grade and D Grade.
The remaining grades would have a season of one-day matches.
But DVCA general manager Adam Drinkwell said the potential of fitting longer-form games into the season would be removed if a start was delayed until December.
Clubs were presented with the options at the association’s annual general meeting on Wednesday and have until “mid-October” to submit their responses to a survey issued ahead of the new season.
“There is some consideration to play Saturday-Sunday games to avoid the risk of games being affected by COVID in between but with the majority of the season being one-day cricket,” Drinkwell said.
“To play any sort of two-day cricket, we would have to start in November. If we start in December, it will just be one-day cricket for the season.
“Clubs will get a say on the different formats over coming weeks and then a final decision will be made by the DVCA executive based on the feedback from the clubs.
“The board reserves the right to make the final call, but we’ll listen to the clubs closely.
“We understand cricket in this time is going to be a privilege for our clubs and we want to make sure our clubs are best prepared for the new COVID regulations, social distancing, and all that comes with cricket being played in these times.”
Drinkwell said the DVCA would be as “flexible as possible” and had compiled “multiple fixtures” to meet an ever-changing landscape.
He said it was possible more overs would be added if a season of one-day fixtures was preferred in all grades.
The two-day fixtures would likely take a toll on some players and mean they sacrifice their weekends.
“We understand there are other things in life that people will be interested in on the weekends,” Drinkwell said.
“It’s a different scenario to maybe other competitions, but we’ll be largely driven by the feedback from the clubs.
“If the majority of clubs come back and say they don’t like the idea of the Sunday, then most likely we’ll stick to one-day cricket.”
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