Cricket NSW is planning to push ahead with various carnivals and championships scheduled for the coming weeks but government advice will decide whether they are played or not.
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The dates for the Plan B Regional Bash finals at the Sydney Cricket Ground are the latest to be confirmed but the continued COVID cases stemming from the Sydney cluster have those fixtures in some doubt.
The Orana Outlaws are set to feature in both sets of finals, with the women's side scheduled to play at the famed ground on Sunday, January 17, while the men will have their turn on Monday, February 8.
Cricket NSW's Country Programs Manager Bruce Whitehouse confirmed at this stage the finals will go ahead.
"But anything we do will be subject to government advice," he said.
"We'd like to see it go ahead but we've got to listen to government advice."
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The same goes for upcoming events like the Bradman Cup, Country Colts Championship, Women's Under 19 Country Championship, and a senior carnival in Canberra involving NSW Country, Queensland Country and the ACT.
The annual Western NSW Cricket Carnivals, scheduled to be played from January 4-11 at Orange, have already been cancelled as a large number of teams taking part would be travelling from Sydney.
Western Zone is due to field teams at the Bradman Cup under 16s carnival and the under 18s colts championship, both of which are scheduled to be played in Albury from January 5-7.
Western is also due to take part in the women's 19s championship southern pool carnival at Canberra on January 13 and 14.
The major issues for Cricket NSW is different restrictions for people travelling to or from the ACT and players and teams from the Illawarra and Central Coast are also meant to be involved in each carnival.
COVID cases are now being found in those regions, with a further 18 cases of community transmission in the state confirmed by premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday.
Two of those new cases were in Wollongong.
"It's popped up in Wollongong and that's not good for us," Whitehouse admitted.
"We're pressing ahead at the moment but we're in the lap of the gods. We've got to be smart about it."
While Whitehouse and Cricket NSW took some heart from the SCG being confirmed as host of the third Test between Australia and India, it and the Regional Bash finals are vastly different beasts.
"That's a positive but you've got to bear in mind they're professional players living in a bubble and crowds can be managed easily," Whitehouse said.
"They're ticketed while the Regional Bash you can just walk in. We'll still do QR code check-ins and COVID safety plans so we're pushing ahead and keeping fingers crossed."
A potential cancellation of the Regional Bash finals is disappointing news for the Outlaws, who were due to have their men's and women's sides play in the finals for the very first time this season.
The men defeated Central West and Illawarra to book a place in the final four while the women also defeated Illawarra to advance.
The Outlaws are due to be joined at the SCG by the ACT Aces, Newcastle Blasters, and Lake Mac Attack in the men's finals and the Aces, Coffs Coast Chargers and Northern Inland Bolters in the women's semis.
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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.
