DUBBO District Cricket Association president Jeff Shanks has confirmed the city’s top flight competition, the Whitney Cup, will be contested over three different forms of cricket in 2016-17.
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A drastic change to the sole, two-day cricket competition won by Macquarie last summer, the DDCA’s first grade premiership will be run and won over one full round of two-day cricket, one full round of 40-over cricket and, as an “experiment”, a full round of 50-over cricket.
Shanks says the change in structure ahead of the competition’s first round on Saturday, October 8, is borne from a strong desire to further test the city’s players across all forms of the game.
“Last year was a bit of an experiment overall,” Shanks said looking back at the two-day dominated first grade title race in 2015-16.
“We’ve spoken to the clubs ahead of this season and everyone is pretty keen to have a crack at the one-day stuff too.
“A lot of our rep players contest 50-over games at higher level cricket as well. Bringing that in will obviously help them and give other players a taste of it as well.
“They’re all excited for it … hopefully now we get some good weather to kick it all off.”
Elaborating on how the 50-over competition will work, Shanks said the DDCA has scheduled all games of the newest form of cricket in Dubbo for the school holiday period.
“There’s no juniors in school holidays so the earlier start time for 50-over cricket won’t impact them there,”
“We’re excited to see how the format works as well. It’s just a matter of finding enough day-light hours to get the games in.”
In total, 24 teams will be in action each weekend in all senior grades of the DDCA.
Six sides will again contest the Whitney Cup, with defending champions Macquarie to take on South Dubbo, CYMS, Rugby, RSL Colts and Newtown.
Each of those six sides will have a representative in second grade’s Pinnington Cup as well, with the second tier’s draw emulating the top grade, the only alteration being all 50-over cricket rounds will be 40-over games in second grade.
Third grade’s Kelly Cup, Shanks enthuses, has possibly the most exciting change to it in 2016-17.
All six clubs will field two third grade outfits this summer, leading DDCA officials to introduce a two rivalry rounds in the draw.
“That should spice things up for everyone in that grade as well,” Shanks laughed.
“It’s the first time we’ve had two sides from each club in third grade, so we’re thrilled about that.”
The DDCA summer starts on October 8.