BALLARAT Cricket Association has ruled out joining the Melbourne Premier Cricket competition next year, despite being named as a potential new side by Cricket Victoria.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cricket Victoria announced on Tuesday that five clubs/associations were in the running to fill a vacancy in the premier cricket competition, of which the BCA was one.
However, BCA president Rob Florence said it would be "physically impossible" to assemble a team for the 2015-16 season, although there were still long term ambitions to join the premier division.
Florence said the association was encouraged to put its name forward by Cricket Victoria, even though it would not realistically be able to compete next season.
Ballarat would be required to enter four full grades and have two home grounds as a minimum to compete.
"I think it would be physically impossible to get a team together for next year," Florence said.
"It's about keeping our hat in the ring should we be looked at further down the track. We haven't expressed the idea too strongly to our clubs at this point.
"I think we have more of a five-to-ten year plan at this point."
Florence said the BCA was approached with the idea of submitting an expression of interest by Cricket Victoria about three weeks ago, but was yet to put realistic plans in place to enter the competition in the near future.
At this point a composite team made up of players from all BCA clubs would be preferred down the track, but there is still scope for a powerhouse club to make the step upwards, Florence said.
Ballarat is the only regional association in the shortlist of five applicants, with Hoppers Crossing, Melton, Plenty Valley and Werribee cricket clubs all putting their hats in the ring.
CV chief executive officer Tony Dodemaide said regional Victoria was a key focus area, hence the push for Ballarat to showcase what it could offer in the future.
"Though not within the Melbourne metropolitan area, we are certainly interested to hear more from the Ballarat Cricket Association, who have a strong history of producing talented cricketers," he said.
"We look forward to receiving a blueprint from the Ballarat Cricket Association on how they see premier cricket working within their area and with the rest of the competition."
The vacancy in the premier division opened up as a result of the merger between Dandenong and Hawthorn Monash University.
A final decision on which club be granted the spot in the premier division is expected in March.
