THE clubs are being called on to help determine the make-up of the 2016-17 Ballarat Cricket Association firsts season.
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In a statement released on Friday, the BCA outlined two options which have been sent to clubs for consideration.
The first scenario is one which entails nine rounds of two-day cricket, where each club would play eight matches and have one bye. It would also include three rounds of one-day cricket, which would incorporate two matches and another bye each.
“This option would see all teams play each other once in a two-day format and play two teams twice,” the statement read.
“This option would mean the requirement for the regional T20 competition would see at least two extra Sundays included for preliminary matches then a finals series.”
Option two has a strong Twenty20 flavour.
Under this model, the season, like option one, would include nine rounds of two-day cricket, but also have nine rounds of T20s, where each club would play eight games and have one bye.
“This option would see all teams play each other twice and have two byes,” it read.
“It would require only one extra day added to the fixture (Sunday) and be played for points contributing to the regular season ladder, but also contribute to a separate T20 ladder in which a finals series would be played to determine the BCA representative club for the regional tournament.”
With the AFL grand final again being played in October – which takes away a traditional day of cricket in the BCA – the association has put in a request to the City of Ballarat to extend the season through to the weekend of April 1-2 next year.
BCA firsts will have just nine teams in 2016-17 following the withdrawal of Coronet City from the competition.
Friday’s statement outlined that it is the BCA board’s intention to lock in the firsts fixture before attending to the seconds, thirds and fourths divisions “with the aim to align all together wherever practicable”.
The association has asked clubs to consider the two options – or offer additional ideas – and provide a preference by Friday, July 8.