Subbies season to start with practice round as clubs trial COVID-19 rules
The Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association has fixtured scratch matches to allow clubs to come to grips with the COVID-19 guidelines set out by Cricket Victoria.
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The Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season will open on November 14 – with a practice round.
Eager to test out protocols put in place for COVID-19, Subbies officials have fixtured scratch matches for First and Second XI teams a week before the season-proper.
Clubs have been encouraged to organise games for their thirds and fourths.
A 13-round season of one-day matches will start on November 21 and end with group finals on Saturday, March 20.
All matches will be 40-over affairs in the firsts, seconds and thirds, using red balls.
Fourth XI teams will play 35-over games.
“There are a couple of things to the practice round; it will give the players and umpires a hitout before we start the pennant competition, but more importantly it will give the clubs an opportunity to implement their COVID-19 plans,’’ VSDCA secretary Ken Hilton told Leader.
“They will need to test them out and have them reviewed by the clubs’ COVID-19 compliance officer, make whatever adjustments are necessary and have everything in place for Round 1.’’
Hilton said that under Cricket Victorian guidelines the ball would have to be cleaned after every 10 overs and at the fall of a wicket.
To allow for the time that process would take for both innings, matches will start at 12.30pm.
Hilton said there was wriggle-room with the fixture.
“There’s some flexibility there. If we get an interruption to the season, and that wouldn’t be a surprise if we did, we can push the rounds back and play up until March 27,’’ he said.
Sundays have been set aside as reserve days for the qualifying (March 6), semi-finals (March 13) and group finals.
In a memo to clubs, Hilton said Melbourne appeared to be in an encouraging position for the resumption of community sport, “however clubs should clearly understand that commencement of training and playing is still subject to Victorian Government approval’’.
VSDCA PRACTICE ROUND
Saturday, November 14
1st and 2nd XIs
Brunswick v Coburg
Preston v Plenty Valley
Altona v Williamstown
Werribee v Hoppers Crossing
Taylors Lakes v Melton
St Bernard’s v Yarraville
Noble Park v Endeavour Hills
Oakleigh v Moorabbin
Ivanhoe v Caulfield
Balwyn v Kew
Brighton v Malvern
Elsternwick v Ormond
Bayswater v Croydon
Mt Waverley v Box Hill
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