The competition has trialled some different rule changes and ideas over the last several seasons including a maxi-over and marquee players to name a few but what else could be done?

Tom Barber

I remember going to Friday night games growing up and watching teams like the Pastoral Pirates run around with a mix of players from all six different clubs.

While I'm not a 100 percent sure how the competition worked back then, I have a few ideas of how it could run now.

I'd love to see a draft format in which the six captains who could be their respective club captains or just senior blokes in Dubbo cricket pick squads of 12 or 13 players for the whole Twenty20 season.

Imagine having Mitch Bower open the batting with Jason Green against a new-ball bowling attack of Bailey Edmunds and James O'Brien? Tell me people would not come and watch that.

At the moment, it seems as though the same three teams dominate the Twenty20 competition each and every year while the crowds seemingly get smaller and smaller.

READ ALSO:

- 'A lot of improvement to come': Rugby eager to make most of its talent

- Tremain 'excited to get back to work' with the Blues

- Rummans keen to watch future stars shine at Bradman Cup

You can have teams from places like the Pastoral or Milestone who currently do not sponsor any club in town.

Another benefit of this concept would be playing with cricketers you don't normally play with apart from the odd representative game here and there.

Being a young batsman and being in the same side as someone such as Green or Bower imagine what you could pick up and learn from them?

Look at Ben Patterson, he and Brock Larance were playing NSW Premier Cricket last year imagine what they could teach an up-and-coming youngster who may make the move down to Sydney one day.

Most cricketers in Dubbo get along with each other well but as a captain imagine having the fun you could have picking blokes to captain when Dubbo cricket has some huge names at the moment.

What would the teams play for? Give them prize money.

For example, a competition with $2000 for the winning side can split that amongst themselves and this would entice some of the bigger names in Dubbo to continue playing.

I know it would take a lot of work but I believe if the draft format and this kind of competition came back it would get crowds back to the cricket again.

Nick Guthrie

It feels like on the eve of every season it's promised this summer is the one which will bring the crowds in for Twenty20 cricket.

Those on the association are tireless workers for the game - and none of this is a shot at them because it takes a lot of effort to organise things - but the Twenty20 competition, currently the MoneyQuest Megahit, has failed to truly capture the interest of the wider community.

Friday night cricket is never going to be something which brings almighty hordes of people through the gate, but by taking some risks and changing it up there could be the potential of attracting bigger crowds to No. 1 Oval.

As it stands now, there's very little difference between Saturday cricket and Friday night cricket. Teams score pretty quickly around here so, for the most part, it's not like the run-rate changes a huge amount from one format to the other.

It's a pretty obvious thing to say but to make the competition different, you've got to make it different.

The inter-town competition in Bathurst and Orange is thriving. It features 12 teams in two pools and sides are allowed to field up to two marquee players from different clubs or associations. That sounds like a fun thing to be a part of.

How about we expand the competition here? Let's go to eight teams. We'll ask Parkes to come across and play. They can field their representative side if they want.

Macquarie might already have Myles and Blake Smith in its lineup so the Blues might not be cheering about this idea but a Parkes team with those brothers, Zac Bayliss, Brent Tucker and others would be great. You don't need as much commitment for a Friday night comp so maybe Cameron Rosser, Pete Yelland, or Clinton Hawke would pull the colours back on. It could be a real positive for Parkes cricket.

And what about the eighth team? I'll put forward a Dubbo under 21s side.

It would be a great opportunity for younger players to line up together and further hone their skills in a format which they are likely to play more and more as they advance in the sport.

For those who might think and under 21s team could do it tough against seasoned first grade outfits, lets look at who is under 21 in the Dubbo competition.

CYMS alone has Brock Larance, Tom Coady, Thomas Nelson, Paddy Nelson, and Jake Settree. Anthony Atlee and Riley Keen from Colts, Ted Murray, Lawson Shepherd, Darcy Chewings. These players have all made an impact in first grade previously.

Rules would have to be put in place. Only three players per club are available for 21s selection so existing teams are impacted to severely.

The under 21s players could still turn up for their regular teams in weeks when the under 21s side isn't playing, as well. More cricket the better for these players who are developing their talents.

Go to a couple more businesses around town for sponsorship, boost the prizemoney for the overall winner and the scene is set for an improved competition.

Colts' big chance

There might be tough times ahead for Rugby and Souths. The two first grades sides without a win to their name both play the unbeaten RSL Colts this weekend. Rugby, fresh from a 103-run loss to Colts in a 40-over match, take on the premiers in a Twenty20 on Friday night before Souths tackle the men in red on Saturday.

The bowling attacks at Rugby and Souths aren't the strongest in the competition so if Colts' stacked batting lineup fires again there could be some big scores on the menu.

Chris Morton's already got a century to his name and Marty Jeffrey and Brad Cox have also scored 50s. It's scary to think what happens when Mitch Bower, Charlie Kempston, Ant Atlee, and Jason Ryan get going too.

Souths has split

Keep an eye on the two South Dubbo sides in the RSL-Pinnington Cup on Saturday. There's been dramas for the club in the past couple weeks as the South Dubbo United team has fallen apart. Players have left and spread around other teams but Souths has promised to fill two teams. Instead of South Dubbo and South Dubbo United, second grade will now feature Souths Lemons and Souths Limes.

Here's hoping the talent pool isn't stretched too thin now as the second grade competition is shaping as a strong and even one this summer.

Loaded for road trip

Dubbo won its Brewery Shield round one match with ease and the team for Sunday's second match is arguably even stronger.

Western Zone all-rounder Jacob Hill has been selected and Ben Knaggs and Jakke Gardiner (pictured), who played Western Zone Premier League last season, are also in. The road trip to Cobar is always a bit of a daunting one but Dubbo's change of approach to make Brewery Shield team a genuine second XI side this summer means the unbeaten start to things should continue.