Grade Cricket

[Burras]

Then that upsets the community cricket clubs who won't be able to field sides.....

No one wins in any situation here...

ATCA? Surely the better juniors would play district cricket and the community clubs would be where the district clubs would canvas their talent from.

All up I think whites is a waste of time, I've not met many kids that have been content in just playing whites, they usually return to just playing for their local club after a few games if they don't look like being considered for the reds.

I think there's a place for U14 whites as you need to harvest talent at the young age... If you let a 11,12 year old develop bad habits at a community club then they'll be stuck with that.

16 whites on the other hand is a waste of time. Clubs are playing kids who they know aren't good enough for district (premier) cricket but they need them to fill a team and avoid a fine for forfeiting.

the link between community and premier clubs needs to be stronger so that premier clubs can cut these kids and if they develop at community level bring them back.... not enough emphasis on the whole 'elite' cricketers playing premier cricket anymore

[Tony Clifton]

Agreed - U/14 whites should stay. Not as obvious at that age which ones will end up the standouts, plus there's a bigger difference at that age between kids that grow early/late.

One team at U/16 level should be plenty. Force grade clubs to be more selective so that they don't string kids along for two years who aren't up to it and won't play seniors. Would be beneficial to community cricket.

If there was just one grade of SACA U16 cricket you could play it on Sundays without affecting turf clubs much.

[Lightning McQueen]

I think there's a place for U14 whites as you need to harvest talent at the young age... If you let a 11,12 year old develop bad habits at a community club then they'll be stuck with that.

16 whites on the other hand is a waste of time. Clubs are playing kids who they know aren't good enough for district (premier) cricket but they need them to fill a team and avoid a fine for forfeiting.

the link between community and premier clubs needs to be stronger so that premier clubs can cut these kids and if they develop at community level bring them back.... not enough emphasis on the whole 'elite' cricketers playing premier cricket anymore

Yeah, that has merit, I've seen a certain club over the years "not" pick the better players out from community cricket and have played favourites, it has gotten way better at this said club though as it's had more involvement from those who are from the community clubs and they actually check out the talented kids at the community level.

[The Bedge]

Yeah, that has merit, I've seen a certain club over the years "not" pick the better players out from community cricket and have played favourites.

Sounds a little like footy with the league clubs with the private school kids.

[Bluedemon]

Agreed - U/14 whites should stay. Not as obvious at that age which ones will end up the standouts, plus there's a bigger difference at that age between kids that grow early/late.

One team at U/16 level should be plenty. Force grade clubs to be more selective so that they don't string kids along for two years who aren't up to it and won't play seniors. Would be beneficial to community cricket.

If there was just one grade of SACA U16 cricket you could play it on Sundays without affecting turf clubs much.

wouldn't you be best to play the Under 16s on Saturday as Turf 15s and 17s are played on Sundays

[Tony Clifton]

Agreed - U/14 whites should stay. Not as obvious at that age which ones will end up the standouts, plus there's a bigger difference at that age between kids that grow early/late.

One team at U/16 level should be plenty. Force grade clubs to be more selective so that they don't string kids along for two years who aren't up to it and won't play seniors. Would be beneficial to community cricket.

If there was just one grade of SACA U16 cricket you could play it on Sundays without affecting turf clubs much.

wouldn't you be best to play the Under 16s on Saturday as Turf 15s and 17s are played on Sundays

1st XI cricket is on Saturdays

The best Under 16s wouldn't (or shouldn't) be playing Turf 15s and 17s. Turf cricket would still get an influx of players if 16 whites was abolished.

[heater31]

Agreed - U/14 whites should stay. Not as obvious at that age which ones will end up the standouts, plus there's a bigger difference at that age between kids that grow early/late.

One team at U/16 level should be plenty. Force grade clubs to be more selective so that they don't string kids along for two years who aren't up to it and won't play seniors. Would be beneficial to community cricket.

If there was just one grade of SACA U16 cricket you could play it on Sundays without affecting turf clubs much.

wouldn't you be best to play the Under 16s on Saturday as Turf 15s and 17s are played on Sundays

1st XI cricket is on Saturdays

The best Under 16s wouldn't (or shouldn't) be playing Turf 15s and 17s. Turf cricket would still get an influx of players if 16 whites was abolished.

Maybe not. If 16 whites is used effectively it's all bottom age under 16 (first year out of under 14) they can still play u15 turf. Most kids now double up anyway. I know at my club it's caused a few issues with player, parent and community club. We had 2 kids rule themselves out of a senior Grade Final because they wanted to play a Turf GF

[the javelin]

any idea about the fixtures yet?

[heater31]

Final draft sent to clubs last week. Should be released next month.

[bulldogproud2]

Any chance of it coming out before the first match??

Cheers

[heater31]

Any chance of it coming out before the first match??

Cheers

Hard copies were handed out at the last Grade Cricket committee meeting...

[Eagles2014]

Any chance of it coming out before the first match??

Cheers

Agree BP2, be nice for SACA to put it on My Cricket - Adelaide Turf been up for a fortnight!

[Eagles2014]

Any chance of it coming out before the first match??

Cheers

Agree BP2, be nice for SACA to put it on My Cricket - Adelaide Turf been up for a fortnight!

SACA must read SA Footy, program uploaded to My Cricket today!

[Shark_Hunter]

Any ins and outs down Henley way Eagle?

[Eagles2014]

Any ins and outs down Henley way Eagle?

No Shark Hunter, we have the same squad as last year, have not recruited anyone and lost nobody either.

You would think we won't see Kelvin Smith much this year as should be playing for Redbacks from the opening game and if his form is good enough will stay in the team.

The improvement needs to come from all the younger guys, they all had good experience last year in the 1sts, and we exceeded expectations playing finals, so hopefully they continue to improve, and Cullen and Kelly playing on with the hope of getting one last Premiership.

Will be much tougher year though, with several clubs having recruited well. We need to rely on the youth, having won so many junior titles over the last six years, need to turn that into Senior glory now!

[Tony Clifton]

Kelvin would be half a chance at Aussie honours if he starts the season well.

Reckon the selectors are due to pick a few speculative youngsters rather than topping up with 30 something Shield journeymen.

[Stumps]

ex squeeze me.
Hope you are correct but id be very suprised this year.
Also can he field?

[Eagles2014]

ex squeeze me.
Hope you are correct but id be very suprised this year.
Also can he field?

Think Aussie duty is still fair way off TC, even when you watch Travis Head bat compared to Kelvin, you notice how much ahead Trav is. Reckon if he can nail a couple of tons early in the year he is a realistic chance.

Think Kelvin needs to establish himself at Shield level first. Think you are right also Stumps, he still has bit of work to do on his fielding. But Travis did also, when he came into Redbacks, Darren Berry was asking what they were doing in Under 19 squads on fielding as he was so bad!

[Tony Clifton]

I think change is in the air. McGrath, Healy, Warne had not established themselves at Shield level. Our selectors haven't made the same prescient calls in the last 15 years really. Just topped up with whatever veteran (Law, Siddons, Cox equivalent) was top of the Shield averages at that point in time.

Travis can't field partly because he kept wickets from 10-15 years of age!

[The Bedge]

Kelvin Smith would be a very long way down the pecking order at the moment I think.

Is he involved with the NPS at all? That might increase his chances, but still would think there are a lot ahead of him..