by V0ice0fthev0iceless » Tue Jan 24, 2023 10:53 am
There have recently been some rumblings of amendments to the playing season based on clubs player availability and aging demographics. Additional to this, there were suggestions of weeks off throughout the season for things like the Adelaide test match. I think since the pandemic, more people are inclined to want to miss weekends of cricket for events like this, and I think it's possible to add that weekend off to our schedule.
This competition remains unique from a hard wicket perspective, with most other associations opting to become primarily one day cricket comps. I feel that we should lean in to what we do, and embrace two day cricket, rather than shifting to one day cricket. Therefore, I am suggesting that each team plays eachother once throughout the season in a two day game, with no one day games in between (unless there is a heat/rain effected first day where this would then become the only option). This adds higher stakes to each result and will mean the ladder at the end of a season will be tighter than they've ever been. With this in mind, I feel the association should allow cross section slash players, meaning a player could play week 1 in section 3, and week 2 in section 1, or vice versa.
Further changes to the schedule would include a weekend long T20 carnival in December to get clubs playing 2-3 of their T20 round robin games in a single weekend. This is at the same time as the T20 Big Bash League and around school holiday time. This will also mean less need to source grounds mid week and will allow some clubs who may not have the facilities available on week night to then join the competition.
I would also recommend the association approach the Fleurieu & Districts Cricket board and request inclusion in the Meyer Shield association competition. Either this, or approaching ATCA and re-establishing a yearly Association match. This can be factored in to future fixturing.
Regular season finals structure should take a similar approach to how the BBL function, with the below structure:
Beginning with the Eliminator, the sides that finish fourth and fifth will clash in a 'win or go home' match, with the loser eliminated and the winner proceeding to the Knockout.
The Knockout will see the third-placed side clash with the winner of the Eliminator, with the loser of the Knockout eliminated from the running and the winner progressing.
Prior to the Knockout, the Qualifier between the top two sides will take place, with the winner moving straight into the Final.
The loser of the Qualifier will then face the winner of the Knockout in the second last final of the series, the Challenger.
The Challenger will then decide which club will join the winner of the Qualifier in the Final, with the victor moving on to the deciding match while the loser will be eliminated.
The Final will be hosted by the side that won the Qualifier, with all other finals to be hosted by the highest-seeded side.
Below is how the regular season would look:
Round 1
14 & 21 October
Round 2
28 October & 4 November
Round 3
11 & 18 November
Round 4
25 November & 2 December
OFF
9 December (Test Match Weekend)
ASCA T20 SMASH
16 & 17 December
Round 5
6 January & 13 January
OFF
20 January (Meyer Shield/Association Weekend)
Round 6
27 January & 3 February
Round 7
10 February & 17 February
Round 8
24 February & 2 March
Finals Week 1
9 March & 10 March
Finals Week 2
16 March & 17 March
Finals Week 3
23 March & 24 March
Keen to hear some thoughts.