Gisborne District Cricket Association reveals season start plan
The Gisborne District Cricket Association is dealing with a unique balancing act. With clubs based in metropolitan and regional areas the competition will begin the season with a series of friendlies.
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The Gisborne District Cricket Association has released its plan to start season 2020-21 but is facing a unique complication.
The competition has clubs spread across metropolitan north-west Melbourne but also in regional areas, with vastly different COVID-19 restrictions.
As it stands, regional clubs can train and prepare almost as normal – albeit under strict protocols – while their metro rivals are still in Stage 4 lockdowns.
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Those lockdowns may not lift until mid to late October.
As such the GDCA has announced the season will begin on October 17 with a four-week series of friendlies between regional clubs.
The matches will not be played for points and the season proper will commence when metro clubs are able.
“Players are desperate to play sport after being starved of community competition for the past six months”, GDCA president Rob McIntyre said.
“Our clubs have already seen increased interest in people wanting to play cricket and this is reflected in the 73 senior teams nominated for this season, up from 66 last season”.
The move has been backed by Bacchus Marsh president Scott Wakefield, who said players just wanted to take the field again whether points were on offer or not.
“The players will be more than happy to play, everyone wants community sport to start again.
“Our players are keen to get started and if that’s not playing for points then so be it.
“It gives us the opportunity to give the kids a go in maybe the higher grades because some of our players live in metro areas and they can’t train or play.”
Diggers Rest Bulla captain Rhys Berry also supported the idea, denying it would be big advantage to regional clubs.
“It’s not about that … it’s about people getting out of the house,” he said.
I can understand some people will screw their nose up and say it’s unfair on the metro sides but … as long the season doesn’t start straight away and we get a few weeks to prepare.
“We had out AGM yesterday and we’ve got our COVID officers in place, it’s going to be a hands on operation but many hands make like work..”
The GDCA has several options for the season start once all teams are ready with possible Round 1 dates up to the end of January.