Grade Cricket Is The Problem

[FlyingHigh]

Fair enough MP. I was only thinking of aligning clubs, not rebranding them. We all seem to think Grade cricket needs an overhaul, so was just an idea.

[Magpiespower]

Fair enough MP. I was only thinking of aligning clubs, not rebranding them. We all seem to think Grade cricket needs an overhaul, so was just an idea.

Yeah, fair enough. Just reakon existing club identities are pretty important, as important as the SANFL.

A hypothetical I know but...

There's no way I'd support a Central Districts District Cricket Club (what a mouthful) playing out of Elizabeth Oval.

[FlyingHigh]

Keep the Northern Districts name, but playing at Elizabeth etc was part of the idea, having shared gym facilities and other resourcs with the footy club.

[matt]

Food for thought amongst all these calls for change.
Why could South Australia once produce cricketers who could consistently perform well against talented first class opposition without the help of specialist coaches, physios and other service providers and whilst, at the same time, being paid peanuts to do so?

[smac]

Matt,

Passion for your chosen sport is replaced by passion for cash.
More sports competing for attention - soccer is making huge inroads in particular.
Employers less obliging with time off to pursue sport at the semi-elite level.
I am sure there are more, but those are the ones that sprang to mind quickly.

[heater31]

Perth have 16 teams thats proably why thay have underachieved like the Redbacks the last ten years.

But have WA been bowled out for 29 and regularly bowled out for low scores?

I dont give a flying F*** what other states are doing with grade cricket, just becuase WA have 16 teams it makes it OK for us to have 13???

saying that Perth has a similar population size but has more sides but seems to be coping with the step up to first class cricket. the coaching staff at the SACA needs to be questioned here one coach says somthing to said 'underage player' who then moves up an age group and is told something completely different. What or who is the kid supposed to believe?

Funding who also have to have a major impact on these kid's development throughout their junior years. It simply isnt there. other states pour money into their junior programs and are getting results. SA just budget enough money to get a team to the national carnival each year then wonder why they get smashed. NSW for instance put their teams into scholarships and are not allowed to play any other sports other than cricket. what is SA doing allowing them to Play SANFL football then get drafted and its about to happen again too if my sources are correct


AH is spot on with players commitment to grade cricket I can recall a current Redback (may or may not be currently in the team) driving to a game and got done for DUI. Players should care if they make runs or not for their club. if they cant perform at club level how the f*ck are they going to perform at First class level.

Why not lead the way and cut it down to 8 and have the best grade comp in Australia becuase it is bloody hard to get a game in it...this will make the Grade cricket as close as possible to 1st class cricket...its miles away at the moment and thats simply where all the problems eminate from...

Some clubs have over 50 to pick from each week and others clubs are draging the chain massively. If there has to be a restructure of Cricket in SA dont just revamp the Grade comp, look at the whole picture.


Matt also has a good point that there is too much money in First Class cricket player contracts. A squad of 12 should have a base salary of say 40K then with the money left over from the current budget up the match fees. then they are back with the rest of us plebs

[Dutchy]

Grade cricket is a huge part of the development of the Redbacks, surely a competitive high quality comp is what we need to bring the juniors through?

As for the juniors didnt we just win the u/17's national champs?

[Magpiespower]

Keep the Northern Districts name, but playing at Elizabeth etc was part of the idea, having shared gym facilities and other resourcs with the footy club.

Sorry FH...

BUT NO WAY!

The home of cricket in the Northern Suburbs is Salisbury.

Elizabeth DCC were around for five minutes...

[MAY-Z]

Grade cricket is a huge part of the development of the Redbacks, surely a competitive high quality comp is what we need to bring the juniors through?

As for the juniors didnt we just win the u/17's national champs?

yes but that means nothing as the majority of the younger players in the side now also played in winning u/17 championships

[Dutchy]

Grade cricket is a huge part of the development of the Redbacks, surely a competitive high quality comp is what we need to bring the juniors through?

As for the juniors didnt we just win the u/17's national champs?

yes but that means nothing as the majority of the younger players in the side now also played in winning u/17 championships

so you simply ignor ethe talent there and give them no further coaching to ensure they develop in the Grade comp and onto 1st class cricket??? Maybe this is the mistake made with the current Rebacks players?

[Aerie]

OK ... here are some steps I would take in order to improve cricket in South Australia and ultimately have the Redbacks performing well and SA producing Australian players:

1) A ten team Grade comp, either by merging or having relegation to the Turf competition.
- if the relegation option was taken, I would leave the junior competition as it is with 12 teams to ensure as many kids are in the system as possible.
- relegation should ensure all clubs strive to perform at their optimum level so they are in the premier competition and a reduced amount of teams mean there is more depth in A Grade.
- ten teams would mean a fixture of 2 day Saturday cricket could be played over 9 rounds plus finals leaving Sunday's free.
- on Sunday's before Christmas I would have a one day competition involving three elite teams chosen from the best Grade cricket has to offer mixed with state players when not on duty plus the state under 19's enter a team.
- on Sunday's after Christmas I would have the Grade one day competition with only the ten Grade clubs competing.

2) More four day second XI cricket should be played in order to reduce the gap from Grade level to First Class. I'd like to see the 2nd XI play a 4-day fixture each time the Redbacks play a Pura Cup match. i.e. when SA play WA at the Adelaide Oval the SA 2nd XI are playing WA 2nd XI on Adelaide no.2 or another Grade oval. If this means reduced base contracts and more match payments then so be it. Even if they need to play more 20/20 to get the money flowing through.

3) A clean out of the coaching staff and those responsible for making decisions on recruiting and contracts for the past 5 years. A fresh team is needed to guide the State's best cricketers and those at the top need to take charge. A fresh and more professional attitude is needed by the players.

4) An academy set up for the off-season taking in the best 30-40 players in the state who are not playing professional cricket overseas. Perhaps a small tour can take place each winter with the top 13 picked.

[dinglinga]

AH is spot on with players commitment to grade cricket I can recall a current Redback (may or may not be currently in the team) driving to a game and got done for DUI. Players should care if they make runs or not for their club. if they cant perform at club level how the f*ck are they going to perform at First class level.

and what a week he has had this week ...... may be he BLEWit

[MAY-Z]

Grade cricket is a huge part of the development of the Redbacks, surely a competitive high quality comp is what we need to bring the juniors through?

As for the juniors didnt we just win the u/17's national champs?

yes but that means nothing as the majority of the younger players in the side now also played in winning u/17 championships

so you simply ignor ethe talent there and give them no further coaching to ensure they develop in the Grade comp and onto 1st class cricket??? Maybe this is the mistake made with the current Rebacks players?

its possibly the coaching that they received that has become the problem

[Maddogmike]

I LOVE GRADE CRICKET