Shark_Hunter wrote:Agree with Aerie, especially if they keep the PL. No need for 1-day cricket, get rid of it or straight out knock-out comp. T20 is also has limited benefits at this level. Better to use the PL to suss out the best players for the T20 and 1-day formats and let grade cricket worry about 2-day cricket with as little Sunday cricket as possible.
Much more likely to get some crowds out watching the likes of Ferg, Sayers and Smith taking on Richardson, Zampa, Hughes and Head in a PL T20 (if it is promoted properly) than you are to a Grade T20 anymore. The early years were fantastic with big crowds getting to Grade T20 but with the over supply of T20 cricket now there is no interest at club level.
Yep, agree, no limited overs required at Grade Level.
This is how I would structure/fixture cricket in SA below State Level.
4 Premier League Teams - Forget teams from NT & PNG. For players who aspire to play First Class Cricket.
12 Grade Teams - Must have a sufficient program at Junior Level to be included in competition (whatever the SACA sees fit). For players who aspire to play Premier League/First Class Cricket and/or play top level Saturday Club Cricket in club environment.
Grade Cricket - 11 Rounds so play every team once, 2 Day Cricket - Saturday Only. Start Oct Long Weekend, 2 Week Break Xmas/NY, Sat/Sun Semi and GF last two weekends in March. No need for any Sunday's if playing Saturday of Test match weekend. Premier League players only miss one game early in the season to incorporate 2 Rounds of Premier League Sat/Sun cricket.
Premier League - Play other teams twice in each format - 2 Day, One Day, T20 Plus GF for each comp.
2 Day Comp (all consecutive days) - have 3 Rounds of Sat/Sun matches in September (not AFL GF weekend), 4th Round Sun/Mon of Oct Long Wkend, 5th & 6th Rounds Sat/Sun over two weekends of Grade Cricket so only one game is missed, GF 1st Sat/Sun of New Year when there is no Grade Cricket scheduled.
1 Day Comp - 3 Rounds each Sunday fortnight before Christmas, 3 Rounds plus GF each Sunday fortnight after New Year. Games scheduled to be played on Sunday following 1st Day of Grade 2-Day game so there is no cricket on a Sunday following the end of a Grade game. Players can enjoy themselves and have a Sunday off after a Grade win/loss.
T20 Comp - Played over 13 Wednesday nights at Glenelg Oval. GF mid-January.
Junior Cricket - I don't mind the idea of U13,U15,U17,U19. No Reds and Whites - Juniors all have a community club to play for if they don't make the team. Senior Cricket A,B,C and each club to have a Women's team (either entered at A or B level) which is played on a Saturday so they can get back to the club too.
Have whatever carnivals SACA sees fit during school holidays including junior premier league.
That should see us win at least 7 of the next 10 Sheffield Shield titles...
*There should be two priorities to strengthen Grade Cricket. Transition the young players through as they finish junior cricket to enter senior cricket. Keep the good senior players playing for longer - they are the best coaches of young players as they are coming through.