Women to open the Victorian Premier Cricket season
With the start of the men’s competition pushed back a week, the women will get the Premier Cricket season rolling on November 22.
Local Sport
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Victoria’s Premier women’s cricketers will get the white ball rolling in 2020-21.
The women will start the season on Sunday, November 22, with the men to follow on Saturday, November 28.
The men had been scheduled to get going on Saturday, November 21 but Cricket Victoria officials have pushed them back a week.
They will still play 17 rounds, but round eight will now be set down for Australia Day.
The thirds and fourths will not make up a round, with their season reduced to 16 matches.
CV officials decided to delay the men’s season after taking feedback from clubs.
Although an easing of State Government COVID-19 restrictions meant they could start training on Wednesday, some clubs have yet to receive permission from their local councils to move into their changerooms.
One has been told it will have to wait until Thursday week.
Other factors were at play.
The 25km travel and “ring of steel’’ rules — expected to be dropped on November 8 — affect a large number of players, preventing them from training with teammates.
Training groups are still limited to three, each with 11 players.
And CV was also concerned that hold-ups in the preparation of some pitches and more wet weather would leave players with an inadequate lead-in to the season.
Cricket Victoria’s high performance department had suggested Premier players would need at least four weeks of training before Round 1.
“The Premier Cricket season already has, and will continue to require, flexibility from all clubs and players as we navigate through a COVID-19 environment during the season,’’ CV competitions manager Darren Anderson said.
“We will continue to work closely with stakeholders across the Victorian cricket community to ensure we reach the best solutions we possibly can in dynamic circumstances.’’
The final fixtures for the men’s competitions will be sent out on Friday.
CV will be hosting a Premier coach and captain webinar on Monday, November 9.
The women’s firsts and seconds competitions will have 14 rounds.
The new thirds section will play 10 matches.