Grade Cricket

[heater31]

agreed, nothing will be implemented for 2014/15 but I think alot will actaully be taken on from this review.

I wonder if PL will go ahead ?

I know a majority of the stake holders in the PL were unhappy..... ie the players! Clubs were against it from the start.

[smac]

The clubs can't have it all. Rationalise or get out of the way of progress - the current grade cricket structure isn't the answer for improving state cricket.

[Aerie]

The simplest change that would have the biggest effect would be to have no Sunday cricket. I reckon you'd find players staying in the game longer and therefore the standard would improve. Plus clubs could make more money by having more people back at the club at the same time - not to mention less to do for volunteers/scorers/umpires etc.

An Under 18 or 19 would also be a good idea to transition players through.

Keep Sundays for Premier League - which has a role to play.

[Stumps]

v good post aerie

[Shark_Hunter]

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.

[Homer J]

The only way any major change would happen is if SACA follow the lead of Soccer and Netball,
Kick everyone out and start again, make the clubs nominate for a spot in a new comp,
Never get the egos involved at most Grade clubs to make any change for the better.

[smac]

Sounds simple... Until you read the SACA constitution. That's where PL was supposed to have an impact, but the clubs didn't support it because it scared them.

PART 3 - CLUBS OF THE ASSOCIATION

14. Current Clubs of the Association

Subject to Rule 15, the following are the Clubs of the Association -

Adelaide Cricket Club Inc.
Adelaide University Cricket Club Inc.
East Torrens District Cricket Club Inc.
Glenelg District Cricket Club Inc.
Kensington District Cricket Club Inc.
Northern Districts Cricket Club Inc.
Port Adelaide Cricket Club Inc.
Prospect District Cricket Club Inc.
Southern District Cricket Club Inc.
Sturt District Cricket Club Inc.
Tea Tree Gully District Cricket Club Inc.
West Torrens District Cricket Club Inc.
Woodville District Cricket Club Inc.


15. Admission and Exclusion

15.1 A Club may be admitted to or excluded from the Association upon special resolutions passed by each of
the Grade Cricket Committee and the Board of Management.

15.2 On the recommendation of the Grade Cricket Committee, subject to the approval of the Board of
Management, any two or more of the Clubs may merge with such financial or other incentives and on
such other terms and conditions as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Management

[Aerie]

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.

[Tony Clifton]

The simplest change that would have the biggest effect would be to have no Sunday cricket.

Don't think the grade clubs would ever let there be no Sunday cricket.

Thirteen rounds and if you get the bottom team in a one day game...

Only answer is to squeeze in lots of Saturday-Sunday fixtures.

[bulldogproud2]

The simplest change that would have the biggest effect would be to have no Sunday cricket.

Don't think the grade clubs would ever let there be no Sunday cricket.

Thirteen rounds and if you get the bottom team in a one day game...

Only answer is to squeeze in lots of Saturday-Sunday fixtures.

I agree very much with Aerie's ideas. I can't see why the grade clubs would not be in favour of getting rid of Sunday cricket, particularly if this is used to accommodate elements of the PL. Most would be in favour. As Aerie said, if we get back to a 12 team competition we can have a full programme of 11 two-day matches with no need for Sundays. Therefore, no team would draw another for a one-day game.

Cheers

[Tony Clifton]

The simplest change that would have the biggest effect would be to have no Sunday cricket.

Don't think the grade clubs would ever let there be no Sunday cricket.

Thirteen rounds and if you get the bottom team in a one day game...

Only answer is to squeeze in lots of Saturday-Sunday fixtures.

I agree very much with Aerie's ideas. I can't see why the grade clubs would not be in favour of getting rid of Sunday cricket, particularly if this is used to accommodate elements of the PL. Most would be in favour. As Aerie said, if we get back to a 12 team competition we can have a full programme of 11 two-day matches with no need for Sundays. Therefore, no team would draw another for a one-day game.

Cheers

Disagree. The push for less Sunday cricket is not a new thing.

There have been plenty of surveys and forums over the last 5-10 years where the recommendations have come - NO MORE SUNDAY CRICKET. Everyone in agreement. Even remember Darren Lehmann personally imploring the grade clubs to reduce it at one meeting.

Then the program comes out... wall to wall Sunday stuff.

[Aerie]

The simplest change that would have the biggest effect would be to have no Sunday cricket.

Don't think the grade clubs would ever let there be no Sunday cricket.

Thirteen rounds and if you get the bottom team in a one day game...

Only answer is to squeeze in lots of Saturday-Sunday fixtures.

I agree very much with Aerie's ideas. I can't see why the grade clubs would not be in favour of getting rid of Sunday cricket, particularly if this is used to accommodate elements of the PL. Most would be in favour. As Aerie said, if we get back to a 12 team competition we can have a full programme of 11 two-day matches with no need for Sundays. Therefore, no team would draw another for a one-day game.

Cheers

Disagree. The push for less Sunday cricket is not a new thing.

There have been plenty of surveys and forums over the last 5-10 years where the recommendations have come - NO MORE SUNDAY CRICKET. Everyone in agreement. Even remember Darren Lehmann personally imploring the grade clubs to reduce it at one meeting.

Then the program comes out... wall to wall Sunday stuff.

That is only because there are 3 competitions and 13 clubs. 12 clubs and 1 competition would mean no need for Sundays at Grade level. Obviously this only works if Premier League exists as you still need that pool of players playing enough cricket in different formats for depth at state level. 44 players for depth would be enough. Especially if you can improve the standard across the board.

[Tony Clifton]

That is only because there are 3 competitions and 13 clubs. 12 clubs and 1 competition would mean no need for Sundays at Grade level. Obviously this only works if Premier League exists as you still need that pool of players playing enough cricket in different formats for depth at state level. 44 players for depth would be enough. Especially if you can improve the standard across the board.

Uh uh.

There were 19 Saturdays of grade cricket this season in the two day competition prior to finals.

You could maybe squeeze out one more Saturday in October so that would make 20.

Thirteen rounds for 20 Saturdays so that would be 7 x 2 day games and 6 x 1 day games.

Do you seriously think that the grade clubs would allow there to be 6 one dayers in their two day competition? Not in a trillion billion years. The grade club decision makers are still bitter about Kerry Packer/WSC and "pajama cricket."

[Aerie]

That is only because there are 3 competitions and 13 clubs. 12 clubs and 1 competition would mean no need for Sundays at Grade level. Obviously this only works if Premier League exists as you still need that pool of players playing enough cricket in different formats for depth at state level. 44 players for depth would be enough. Especially if you can improve the standard across the board.

Uh uh.

There were 19 Saturdays of grade cricket this season in the two day competition prior to finals.

You could maybe squeeze out one more Saturday in October so that would make 20.

Thirteen rounds for 20 Saturdays so that would be 7 x 2 day games and 6 x 1 day games.

Do you seriously think that the grade clubs would allow there to be 6 one dayers in their two day competition? Not in a trillion billion years. The grade club decision makers are still bitter about Kerry Packer/WSC and "pajama cricket."

Like I said, if 12 clubs, that's 11 rounds (22 Saturdays). Plus 2 weekends for finals (these would be Sat/Sun). Plus 2 weekends off at Christmas. Start Oct 4, finish Mar 28. It would fit with no Sundays, but you'd have to play Test Match Saturday.

[wycbloods]

That is only because there are 3 competitions and 13 clubs. 12 clubs and 1 competition would mean no need for Sundays at Grade level. Obviously this only works if Premier League exists as you still need that pool of players playing enough cricket in different formats for depth at state level. 44 players for depth would be enough. Especially if you can improve the standard across the board.

Uh uh.

There were 19 Saturdays of grade cricket this season in the two day competition prior to finals.

You could maybe squeeze out one more Saturday in October so that would make 20.

Thirteen rounds for 20 Saturdays so that would be 7 x 2 day games and 6 x 1 day games.

Do you seriously think that the grade clubs would allow there to be 6 one dayers in their two day competition? Not in a trillion billion years. The grade club decision makers are still bitter about Kerry Packer/WSC and "pajama cricket."

Like I said, if 12 clubs, that's 11 rounds (22 Saturdays). Plus 2 weekends for finals (these would be Sat/Sun). Plus 2 weekends off at Christmas. Start Oct 4, finish Mar 28. It would fit with no Sundays, but you'd have to play Test Match Saturday.

Would you want to be playing the grand finals when the world cup final is being held in australia?

[heater31]

Why the hate for Sunday games? Most other state's Grade competition is littered with Sunday fixtures. Christ all of them except SA went with a minimum of a 3 day final for the A grade and Queensland went with a 4 dayer


our pommy cousins play cricket Sat/Sun most weeks and take it very seriously early in the season as they have knockout games but as they drop out of those it relaxes more....

[Willo]

Why the hate for Sunday games? Most other state's Grade competition is littered with Sunday fixtures. Christ all of them except SA went with a minimum of a 3 day final for the A grade and Queensland went with a 4 dayer


our pommy cousins play cricket Sat/Sun most weeks and take it very seriously early in the season as they have knockout games but as they drop out of those it relaxes more....

Agree totally Heater, dont get all the negative talk about Sunday cricket.

Especially before Xmas, when everyone is craving more cricket. I would play a couple of Sat/Sun games, plus play the One day comp as a Knockout comp as well, so not that much Sunday cricket unless you keep winning, and no doubt those teams wont mind if they are in Semis or GF's!

[Footy Smart]

The issue with Sunday cricket is the predominately amateur players not having a life during cricket season. Add One day/T20/PL/SatSun/2nd11 the players have 0 weekends. Some may say, ‘if they are serious about their cricket and want to play FC then they shouldn’t care’, yes that’s true, but realistically there are only 15 blokes with a genuine shot at playing FC.

[heater31]

The issue with Sunday cricket is the predominately amateur players not having a life during cricket season. Add One day/T20/PL/SatSun/2nd11 the players have 0 weekends. Some may say, ‘if they are serious about their cricket and want to play FC then they shouldn’t care’, yes that’s true, but realistically there are only 15 blokes with a genuine shot at playing FC.

Life isn't meant to be easy....

They are meant to be the cricket equivalent of the SANFL and first class cricket is the 'state' games that you represent your state league....


Drop the one dayers back to 40 overs per side and a knockout format. 20/20 knockout with maybe including an ATCA XI.

[Aerie]

The issue with Sunday cricket is the predominately amateur players not having a life during cricket season. Add One day/T20/PL/SatSun/2nd11 the players have 0 weekends. Some may say, ‘if they are serious about their cricket and want to play FC then they shouldn’t care’, yes that’s true, but realistically there are only 15 blokes with a genuine shot at playing FC.

Life isn't meant to be easy....

They are meant to be the cricket equivalent of the SANFL and first class cricket is the 'state' games that you represent your state league....


Drop the one dayers back to 40 overs per side and a knockout format. 20/20 knockout with maybe including an ATCA XI.

Except they're still paying to play instead of getting paid like SANFL players do.

4 PL teams full of players striving for a contract gives 44 of the best (less existing contracted players when they are available) a genuine chance to win a contract and they can play PL on Sundays and hopefully get paid for it. All under SACA control. That would be more the equivalent to SANFL.

Grade Cricket on Saturdays only should keep more experience in the competition. Especially those who now drop out as soon as they start a family or those that have played State Junior Cricket every weekend summer day for 10 years and are burnt out and go to turf or give up all together. If some of these stayed in the system, they may actually click by the age of 27 or 28 and possibly contribute at the top level for a number of years and in the meantime make Grade Cricket stronger for being there.

Grade Cricket should get really good at being the best 2-day, genuine club cricket competition in the State and make potential stars in the making play against hardened cricketers week in week out to see what they're made of. Then play against their peers on a fair amount of Sundays under the watchful eye of SACA coaches in a variety of formats. Plus utilise mid-week for PL T20.

I'm certainly not saying my opinion is absolutely right. I may be off the mark completely, but they are just my thoughts.

Will be interesting to see the Report when it is made available and interesting to see which way it ends up going. No doubt there will be plenty of differing opinions within each club, let alone throughout the clubs and up to the top at SACA. I do think something has to change though to keep/get Grade Cricket strong and relevant.