October likely to be back in cricket’s hands
Cricket competitions were set to be pushed back but now, with no senior football going ahead, things are set to change. But officials say coronavirus may still have the final say.
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Just as football has played a waiting a game for the past few months, Cricket Victoria is unsure what’s ahead as it plans the 2020-21 season.
But CV will almost certainly have October back to itself.
As football leagues tried to navigate a course through COVID-19, the cricket authority and AFL Victoria came to an agreement to permit the football season to stage finals on the first three weekends of October.
The deal also allowed cricket to take up dates in April.
Football Victoria and other winter sports were also part of the arrangement but most of the Premier Cricket grounds are also used for football.
With no senior football going ahead, it’s believed AFL Victoria will say thanks but no thanks to CV.
AFL Vic is mindful that if the agreement stays in place it could lead to delays in the 2021 season, further frustrating leagues and clubs.
Premier Cricket clubs were given some options for starting dates on Monday night, but the stage three restrictions for COVID-19 have put the issue on the backburner.
“We’re going to hold fire for a week and get a feel for how everything is moving,’’ Premier Cricket general manager Darren Anderson said.
“There were a lot of comments (from clubs) saying, ‘We need a starting date to work towards’, and we went to put a stake in the ground and then (the lockdown) happened.
“We’re going to need Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, because who knows, there might be a third or fourth wave of this thing or this second wave might take a lot longer than the first one and it might extend all the way through to September and into October.
“Based on where we are at the moment, six weeks from now, means clubs can’t started their pre-seasons until mid to late August at best. We’re mindful of that as well.’’
Anderson added: “It’s going to be an interesting year. We’re going to be faced with a few challenges. I think everyone expects that. We need to be a little bit flexible and agile in the way we look at things.’’
Before stage three restrictions were brought back this week, 20 Premier grounds were still set aside for junior football, gridiron or rugby.
The coronavirus pandemic hit cricket in March, forcing the Premier Cricket finals to be abandoned after one week.
Melbourne, as the highest qualified team, was awarded the premiership.
The Sub-District grand finals were also cancelled, and many suburban deciders were called off.
Under the agreement with winter sports, Premier Cricket firsts and seconds could start no earlier than Saturday, October 10.
Junior competitions could play from Friday, October 16 and senior competitions, including Sub-District, from Friday, October 23.
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