Darwin Cricket set to open talk on alcohol consumption with several prominant players open to a booze ban

RUMOURS of a drinking ban during play being implemented from the next NT Cricket season have been shut down by cricket officials.

Darwin Cricket looking to open conversation on alcohol consumption in games.

RUMOURS of a drinking ban during play being implemented from the next NT Cricket season have been shut down by cricket officials.

However, NT Cricket has admitted to discussing alcohol consumption before stumps is called with several clubs in an effort to have a ‘healthy dialogue’ with clubs about the topic.

The NT News understands several lower grade sides had heard the beer ban was imminent, sparking fears of a mass player exodus in the game’s social grades.

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However, Darwin cricket’s management committee chairman Lachlan Baird said the organisation was not concerned with the way individual clubs handle alcohol, but felt a healthy dialogue on the matter was important.

“We’re just making sure Darwin cricket is the best it can be following guidelines of the sports commission,” Baird said.

“We’re not implementing prohibition and we have no immediate plans to limit players’ behaviour in terms of their alcohol intake.

“We’re really happy with the way that clubs currently run things under the good sports guidelines but we just want to start a healthy dialogue so that they will be prepared if something does crop up.

“We will just continue to work with clubs to ensure that they’re the best that they can be and to ensure the player experience here is the best it can be for everyone.”

Though several prominent players in the Darwin and District Cricket competition have offered their support to an alcohol ban should one be proposed.

Pint premier grade captain Tim Garner was one such voice feeling there shouldn’t be a reason for a player of any grade to drink during a game until the match was over.

“There’s the very rare occasion where I have heard of players in lower grades coming in intoxicated,” Garner said.

“I would support a beer ban 100 per cent, there shouldn’t be any reason for someone playing to have a beer until everyone has shaken hands at the end of the game.

“It’s especially an issue insurance wise. If a player goes out drunk and they get hit or injured then there will be a field day.”

His words were echoed by Waratah player-coach Udara Weerasinghe who felt it was every senior player’s responsibility to set an on field example to junior players.

“I would support a ban big time, not doing so would promote a bad culture and we don’t want that in our game,” Weerasinghe said.

“When I first came to Darwin in 2009 and I brought this up with the umpires in Sunday cricket saying that it needed to be stopped.

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“It’s all about building a good culture at our clubs as this is a gentlemen’s game, it always has been, and we need to work with everyone to ensure things are the best they can be.

“The game relies on junior cricket not senior. The more we do for them the better for our sport as they are our future and we need to set the standard.”