Aerie wrote:There are development squads from young ages, underage matches, 2nd XI cricket etc. to push through those with more talent.
It would be good to get rid of the bye, but remember, these clubs have as much tradition and pride as the SANFL clubs who have been around for 100 years and you can't just get rid of clubs for the sake of it. Grade cricket throws out a wide net to catch as much talent as possible. If you think Hills cricket is even close to B Grade cricket you'd be kidding yourself.
It is true there are development squads and 2nd XI matches, and it is also true that a player's performances in 2nd XI state matches carry far more weight than Grade matches when it comes to selection in the state team. However, before a player is selected to play for the state, most of his cricket will be played in the Grade competition.
There are very few quality attacks in Grade cricket at the moment, and batsmen are teeing off on medium pacers, then finding the step up to the 4 day game a monumental one. It is actually a smaller step from the Redbacks the Australian team than it is to progress from Grade cricket to state.
In my time supporting cricket I have seen the disappearance of Teachers Colleges, Elizabeth and Salisbury, and seen the introduction of Tea Tree Gully, Northern Districts and Souther Districts, so the SACA will make changes to "tradition" when it suits. Every State Coach I have spoken with in the past 20 years has stated they need a total overhaul of the Grade system in order to be effective. They have all been hamstrung by influential people who have their own special interests in certain clubs, one in particular.
Getting rid of the bye is a MUST. It's a joke that a player on the brink of state selection could actually go 4 weeks without a hit in the centre. He could bat on day 1 of round 1, field on day 2, have a bye in round 2, then field on day 1 of round 3. With poor weather he could even go 6-7 weeks without a hit. It is totally unacceptable and amateurish.
Once upon a time the best young sportsmen were walking into grade clubs asking for a game. Those days are gone. Cricket has to compete with heavy opposition to attract talent. We can no longer afford the luxury of a club like University who do nothing for SA cricket as far as nurturing young players is concerned. Once again, totally unacceptable.
If you watch a match between 2 of the better clubs, you would be pleasantly surprised by the standard. However, watch 2 of the lower clubs play each other and you would find it hard to believe you are watching the same competition. There are players in A Grade who should not be playing at that level. Everyone knows it, and yet nobody seems to do anything about it. And while this situation exists, the Redbacks will always be a middle of the road state team.
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
