VTCA clubs angered by rule changes ahead of semi-finals

The Victorian Turf Cricket Association has backed last-minute rule changes made before the weekend’s semi-finals despite mounting anger from clubs.

Players wait out the rain on Saturday. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Clubs have hit out at the Victorian Turf Cricket Association for implementing last-minute rule changes for the weekend’s interrupted semi-finals with one captain-coach describing the events as a “shambles”.

With wet weather looming, the league proposed in a meeting with participating clubs last Wednesday that if play went ahead on Saturday there would be no reserve day on Sunday.

However, on Friday new rules were announced that would see games either continue - if a minimum of 20 overs were already bowled - or start again on Sunday if rain stopped play on Saturday.

VTCA president Steve McNamara stood by the move and said it was designed to guard against manufactured results.

“There was a fair bit of scuttlebutt in relation to manipulating the weather to facilitate not playing the reserve day,” he said.

Rain halted play in the VTCA semi-final between Strathmore and Sunshine United. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“To circumvent that we looked at ways to alleviate that, and we felt the process we put in place was the fairest to the majority.

“We stand by our decision. In a number of cases you can see the lower side got through over the higher side and I think that justifies our thought process.

“I can understand the angst out there but we have to look at, if we have the reserve day, we need to use to constructively.”

The last-minute change left clubs frustrated and disappointed in the lack of communication and consultation.

Strathmore coach John Bassi said the league had bowed to pressure from lower-placed clubs.

“It’s garbage. Name another competition in Victoria or Australia that has these bizarre rules,” he said.

“For us to play 13 overs and be 0-60 and have to start all over again, why did we even bother playing Saturday?

“Then there were other games that got past 20 overs and didn’t have to start again, it makes no sense at all, how is that fair?

@VTCA_Official love how a 1 day game can be settled over 2 days in different conditions joke of a competition when you change the rules constantly.

— Kyle Adams (@KylewAdams09) March 14, 2021

“We had a meeting on Wednesday night and then on the eve of the finals they change the rules because some clubs weren’t happy with it.

“Just because it doesn’t suit them because of where they finished on the ladder they want the rules changes. It totally takes away the advantage of finishing higher on the ladder. It’s ridiculous.”

Greenvale captain-coach Kyle Adams expressed his anger on Twitter: “@VTCA_Official love how a 1 day game can be settled over 2 days in different conditions joke of a competition when you change the rules constantly”.

While Doutta Stars won its semi-final, captain-coach Hamish Moore was also unimpressed by the decision-making process.

“It’s a fr****** shambles, and if you want to put that in the paper you certainly can,” he said.

McNamara said the 20-over minimum was already set out in the league’s guidelines.

“That sits in our rules, that if a game doesn’t get to 20 overs it doesn’t constitute a game,” he said.

“Ideally, if games were washed out you could replay from the start, but if they get to 20 overs then it constitutes a game and it needs to continue from there.”