Victorian Turf Cricket Association to expand grand final series for 2020-21
A suburban Melbourne cricket competition is looking to boost the excitement factor this season with the introduction of a best-of-three grand final series as it confirms its season start details.
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The Victorian Turf Cricket Association will introduce a best-of-three grand final series this season.
The league has confirmed a 14-round season, slated to start on November 23, climaxing in what looms as a dramatic decider.
The grand final series will be played Home And Away with the top qualifying team then getting the all-important third match.
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Despite Senior Division increasing to 10 teams and Division 1 to 12 teams, the finals will remain as a top-four system.
VTCA president Steve McNamara said a three-game grand final would make for a fairer contest.
“Our guys are used to four-day grand finals and it knock it over in one day didn’t quite seem sufficient enough,” he said.
“Around that time we get a bit of overnight rain and quite often the grand final wicket has a bit of moisture in it early on, so the first day the ball moves around a bit.
“We felt, given it’s a one-day grand final, that would impact one side greater than the other and it wouldn’t be a fair and honest reflection.
“We thought a best of three grand final would be fairest.”
Last season’s grand finals were called off due to the coronavirus pandemic and the new season will see strict protocols around health and safety at training and during matches.
Promotion and relegation will remain in place so long as the season runs it’s course through to the completion of finals and providing a team is not impacted by COVID-19 quarantine that results in missing more than one match.
The league is working with clubs to reduce the financial impacts of COVID-19 and its hoped the expanded grand final will give qualified clubs a revenue boost.
“With a lot of clubs losing sponsors due to COVID-19 at least by alternating the games the clubs get a chance to earn some revenue through bar sales and things like that,” McNamara said.
“Hopefully, it’s a win for everybody, and they can get some funds out of the day.”
The VTCA has reduced affiliation fees by 20 per cent for 2020-21 and will purchase balls for the commencement of the season and allow clubs more time to make payments.
All regular season games are set to be played in whites and the T20 tournament will be knockout with clubs able to agree on whites or coloured uniforms.