Shorter pitches, smaller boundaries and less players on the field.
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There’s some major changes on the horizon for junior cricket at Dubbo and the game’s governing body is adamant it going to improve involvement and also skill level.
After four years of university-based research and trials in a number of associations, a new-look format is set to be launched in more towns and cities.
Ben MacCormack from Cricket NSW has been in Dubbo this week explaining the changes and options to the local association and also those in the likes of Parkes and Mudgee.
“We saw throughout the pilots the skill level and engagement from young kids was what made this exciting,” MacCormack said.
“It’s an Australia-wide thing and it’s being rolled out across Australian cricket shaped from those programs and it’s been four years of work.”
Thew new format, from Milo In2Cricket all the way up through the junior grades, is done in three stages.
More balls are hit, more balls bowled on the pitch on good lengths and the fielders are more involved.
- Cricket NSW's Ben MacCormack
For the youngest players, pitch and boundary length will be slashed to 14 and 20 metres respectively. In stage one, which works out to be under 10s, the pitch will lift to 16 metres and the boundary to 40.
In stage two, for under 13 players, the pitch will be 18 metres and 45-metre boundaries, while in stage three, from under 14s and up, the field becomes full-sized.
At the representative level in the final two stages, the field is full-sized.
“More balls are hit, more balls bowled on the pitch on good lengths and the fielders are more involved and engaged because of the shorter games,” MacCormack.
“As we’ve been saying to the associations, in four years’ time when it’s rolled out across every association in Australia it will just be known as cricket, it won’t be known as junior formats, it will just be the way cricket is played.”
MacCormack said all the data, surveys and feedback has been positive and stated this will benefit players of all ages and skill levels and help them advance in the game.
“We’re really focusing this on all kids get a great experience when playing cricket, not just the high achievers, but there’s still pathways to service those really good kids, mostly male and female,” he added.
It is now up to the Dubbo association to decide whether to take these formats on, but with it becoming compulsory in four years’ time, MacCormack feels the sooner it is played everywhere the better.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
