Time to dust off the kits

Cricket season is only a matter of weeks away. 232580 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Nick Creely

Local cricketers, it’s time to dust off those cricket kit bags and gear up for a big season.

With the Victorian State Government’s announcement that lockdown will end in Metropolitan Melbourne on Thursday night at 11:59pm, community sport has been given the green light to proceed with training from Friday in a big boost for summer sporting seasons.

With the reasons to leave home and curfew ending from Friday, and no travel limit imposed, cricket associations and clubs will now enter overdrive with the weekend of 13 November now almost certain to see the start of the cricket season.

For the short-term, until the state reaches 80 per cent vaccination rate, there will be no travel into the regions but it won’t impact on the start of the season, with that benchmark set to be reached by Melbourne Cup weekend.

While competition is not permitted from Friday, full training can begin with the minimum required, but changing rooms will be closed for the time being.

While there is no group size limit for training, there will be no spectators allowed, and there is no practice matches against other clubs permitted.

In line with recommendations released recently from Cricket Victoria, the West Gippsland Cricket Association announced its season will begin on Saturday 13 November, with the season to once again be played in a one-day format.

The season start means clubs should get the opportunity to get in almost three weeks of pre-season training before the season kicks off. The season will comprise of 14 one-day matches of 40 overs per side with one-day rules.

The top-three grades will play with a white ball and coloured clothing, while the remaining grades will play with a red ball and white clothing unless an agreement is reached between both teams and both clubs wear coloured clothing.

In other associations, the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association (MPCA) is also set for a 13 November start, the Dandenong District Cricket Association hasn’t made any official announcements, but is almost certain to be begin on the same date, while the Victorian Premier Cricket competition is exploring a 13 November start too which will be played in a one-day format once again.