Cricket Victoria has wins on equipment, spectators guidelines for new season
A ban on spectators watching senior cricket matches and sharing equipment this season caused uproar but, after an approach from Cricket Victoria, the state government’s sports body has had a change of heart.
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Cricket Victoria has made two key breakthroughs as it plots a course for community cricket through COVID-19.
Sport and Recreation Victoria has had a rethink and lifted its ban on spectators at senior cricket.
And players will now be able to share equipment, easing the concerns of clubs and parents that cricket, particularly at junior level and for newcomers, would be too costly in 2020-21.
Players can share pads, gloves, protectors and helmets provided they are cleaned and disinfected between each use.
CV head of member services Paul Milo called it a “great result’’, saying a ban on sharing would have presented major challenges, especially with junior cricket.
“It could save a family hundreds of dollars,’’ CV club competition manager Darren Anderson said this afternoon.
“We are really pleased that this will make it easier for parents and players to have one less expense coming in to the season.
“We’ve been able to get a good result there working with SRV and Cricket Australia.’’
The ban on spectators at senior cricket was listed in Cricket Victoria’s return to train and play update last week.
Players and clubs ridiculed the Sport and Rec stance, saying it would be too difficult for volunteers to enforce it in community reserves.
They also pointed out that spectators could easily maintain social-distance requirements.
Others highlighted anomalies.
“So you can gather in a group of 10 at your local park, just as long as you turn your back on the game of cricket on the oval behind you,’’ tweeted Jonathan Burton.
Dandenong batsman Cameron Forsyth tweeted: “If there’s a more socially distanced place than a Premier cricket ground, I’m yet to find it.’’
The State Government’s view was that only players, coaches, umpires, scorers, a COVID officer and anyone operating the canteen could be at the ground.
CV has been advocating for the ruling to be changed, and it will now be in line with the stay-safe guidance from DHHS. It’s expected to be updated on Monday.
Milo said Cricket Victoria was also going in to bat on issues including:
* access to school ovals (ruled out until further notice by the Department for Education and Training in guidance notes to schools).
* seeking an exemption for umpires to wear a face covering while matches are in progress.
* asking for an increase to the group sizes for training from 10 to 11.
* seeking an increase from to the number of groups per oval from two to four for Under 12s.
* when any form of training can start in metropolitan Melbourne.
* when curators can begin wicket preparations.
* clarity on whether a paid cricket coach can cross the metro/regional border for work
purposes (subject to work permit).
Cricket Victoria has been updating regional and metropolitan associations and clubs with webinars, reaching 1000 registrations this week.
CV is also setting up webinars specific for umpires in the first week of October.