Melbourne Country Week loses another cricket team

A second country cricket association has pulled out of Melbourne Country Week a fortnight out from the carnival, creating a bye.

Melbourne Country Week begins on Monday, February 13.

It was to be its Melbourne Country Week return after a decade away.

But Horsham Cricket Association has had to pull the pin on the February 13-17 carnival, citing a lack of players.

Victorian Country Cricket League president Kelvin White said Horsham withdrew on Monday, meaning Division 2 will have seven teams, and now a bye.

“It’s disappointing,” he said

Horsham was scheduled to play Sunraysia on the Monday, followed by games against Warrnambool and District and Maryborough and District.

White said he encouraged Horsham last week to pick up players from other associations but they still weren’t able to muster a squad.

Casey Cardinia Cricket Association pulled out of Country Week before Christmas.

“We did a survey of clubs to see what interest there was and there was very little interest in clubs participating so we called it,” Casey Cardinia Cricket Association president Rob Hansen said.

Lewis Hyland batting for the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association against Sunraysia in the Melbourne Country Week Division 3 Grand Final in 2020. Picture: Stephen Harman

Seventeen country cricket associations will pad up at Country Week, with 10 teams in Provincial division and seven in Division 2.

Meanwhile, this year’s Melbourne Country Week will mark 100 years of competition.

As part of celebrations, a VCCL Hall of Fame launch will be held on Sunday, February 12, with first-ever finalists Ballarat and Hamilton playing a commemoration match at Wendouree.

Nineteen names are expected to be inducted into the Melbourne Country Week hall of fame, with 20-year Country Week players and officials automatic inclusions.