‘Cricket is to be the loser’: Local clubs speak out on new council laws

Community cricket clubs say they feel unfairly targeted by a local council‘s sudden new turf wicket policies. See the latest.

Community cricket clubs believe there is a target on their backs amid the City of Greater Dandenong’s new turf wicket policies.

In March, the council updated its ‘cricket wicket policy’ to reduce costs.

“In recent years there has been an increase in the use of turf wickets by lower-level teams for these high-quality facilities from DDCA affiliate clubs, ie teams which are not of a high enough standard of performance to warrant a turf table cricket wicket ground, for example fourth or fifth grade teams or social teams,’’ it said.

“The policy dictates that turf wickets will not be allocated for turf Grade E or 5+, Masters or equivalent level of cricket. These teams are to play on synthetic cricket wickets.’’

Springvale South batter Mitchell Forsyth. Picture: Valeriu Campan

One of Dandenong’s 18 wickets.

Springvale Cricket Club has already folded and a number of other clubs feel the cost-cutting has them next in the firing line.

Buckley Ridges’ president Sonny De Silva has slammed the motion, saying there were a number of steps to take prior to removing turf allocation.

“We’re definitely not happy about,” he said.

“They didn’t consult with anyone, in March they came up with this, if it’s something to do with money, then it’s not the way to go look it – there are other ways.

“We feel they just have an agenda of trying to close down as many clubs and get rid of as much cost but they’re going about it the wrong way because cricket is going to be the loser.

“It will create an uneven playing field compared to the clubs in Casey (City of Casey).

“We have done a lot for junior development, I understand they have issues with participation and things like that, but we have done a lot in the area.

“We were called for a meeting and just told this was happening.

“If there were problems, they needed to be discussed, we are quite happy to be self-curators, that’s not a problem.

“We’re trying to promote turf cricket to juniors, because that’s what we use in Turf 4 and 5 and now we don’t have a ground.”

Buckley Ridges taking on Springvale South. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Springvale South says the new policy will have an impact on veteran’s cricket, which was formerly played on turf wickets on Sundays.

Bloods director of cricket Tim Cockayne urged the council to look at the importance of sporting clubs before pushing forward.

“I think it’s important we understand how important clubs are to people, for many it’s their home, it’s their area of safety and we have to be very careful taking these things away from them,” he said.

“We can do a lot of damage to a lot of people by doing so.

“We also can’t forget that all of the clubs purchase their products, food and alcohol, from within the City of Greater Dandenong and therefore provide an economic benefit to the city.

“They also bring in a lot of people to the area, who stay in the area, they eat, take in other activities.

“There’s an economic benefit that also needs to be taken into account.”

On July 14, councillor Angela Long – a life member at North Dandenong Cricket Club – said it was hard to “justify” turf curators for clubs unable to promote junior or women’s cricket.