CYMS will be crowned the RSL-Whitney Cup champion after the Dubbo District Cricket Association (DDCA) followed Cricket Australia's recommendation to cease all play.
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Cricket Australia announced on Tuesday morning the cancellation of the Marsh Sheffield Shield final and recommended all cricket played within the community stop for the remainder of the 2019/20 season in response to the global coronavirus pandemic.
DDCA president Jeff Shanks confirmed he would be following those guidelines, bringing the curtain down on what he described as the "wildest season" he'd ever been a part of.
"That's what it will be," he said.
"We were up to our finals and we were waiting to see what Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia would say and we'd go with the same.
"The cancelled the Shield final so it's only logical all cricket would be cancelled."
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CYMS will be awarded the first grade title after claiming the minor premiership following last weekend's rain-affected final round of the regular season.
RSL-Colts and Macquarie were due to meet in this weekend's semi-finals.
Rugby will be crowned the second grade RSL-Pinnington Cup premiers while Newtown Demons are the champions in the RSL-Kelly Cup third grade competition.
While admitting it is hugely disappointing for all the players who would be in action in the semi-finals and grand finals, Shanks stood by the decision.
Cricket Australia officials had received expert advice from the organisation's chief medical officer John Orchard and followed recent government information in order to ensure the game "is doing everything it can to contribute to the global effort to slow, and eventually stop, the spread of coronavirus".
It's the right thing to do.
- DDCA president Jeff Shanks
The sport may be relatively safe and non-contact but the decision to stop all play has been taken to minimise the risk and impact on the wider community.
Health authorities also confirmed on Tuesday there were no cases of coronavirus detected in Dubbo but Shanks, along with so many other heads of sporting associations, agreed the risk was too great for matches to continue.
"It's the right thing to do," Shanks said.
"It's not about stopping the coronavirus but slowing it and the best way to do that is by not having social gatherings.
"That means people at the cricket, spitting on and shining the ball, and then all being together in a pub afterwards.
"You can see the amount of events being cancelled. This will have a huge impact."
The fact cricket matches, particularly at finals time, attract families with young children or elderly relatives - those most at risk of the virus - was another reason to stop play according to Shanks.
"It [finals] is the highlight of the season and you want to play but now it's just as if there was rain or washouts," Shanks said.
"It's the end of the wildest season we've ever seen.
"There was dust storms, smoke, the heat rule, and now coronavirus."
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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.
