EldersUniSA wrote:I think the LO competition is a good option for clubs. It served us well for many years and there are something like 8 clubs that just play this. The game is different but the standard has improved and an LOA premiership is nothing to be scoffed at, even something to aspire to. Obviously not the prestige or standard of the higher 2 day A grade Divs. Typically it can be said that clubs top LO team is better than their 2 day B grade team.
I don't think offering more cricket would increase the number of people playing or increase the time people play. I certainly give credence to the idea of transferring more games to Friday nights when permissible. Opens up peoples weekends and allows players of the same club to be able to spectate the games. On that, another idea could be to schedule a number of A grade games to start later and end later or other games to start earlier or finish earlier (Less overs/no second innings), that way clubs could regularly come back to their home club and watch the ending of games.. Eventually you would witness a thriller.. was lucky enough to have our game finish early on the second day, Got back to the club and saw our A's get their score 9 down.
It might be a good option for clubs, but not for a lot of players. Playing a season of LO cricket can still be expensive for the player and is a 20+ week Saturday afternoon commitment.
I certainly think it would bring a lot of people back/keep people in the game. If I want to try to slog 10 balls for six, bowl a couple of overs, have a laugh with my mates, call the opposition batsman useless, drink piss after the game, and do it for 6-8 weeks where do I go?? This is what a huge amount of cricket lovers want to do. We should offer this product and not resist because it doesn't fit with our traditionalists views of a cricket season.
I think this new membership would revitalise cricket clubs by attracting new members. A few would no doubt go on to play full season cricket and get more involved in the club.
Thinking about my footy and cricket club, only a couple of us do both, it's asking a lot for players to commit all year round. Yet, most of the footy players love their cricket, but wont make that level of commitment, especially on the back of their footy commitments. Lets give them a product that they want!