The Ballarat Cricket Association is considering three fixture options for the 2018-19 season.
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The association has circulated an email to all clubs detailing the draft models, which will eventually be decided upon by the BCA board.
Focusing on the first grade competition, option one is to continue the current format of a mixture of two-day and one-day matches throughout the season.
This would see a separate Twenty20 competition played across mid-week and Sunday timeslots, with those results not counting to the season-proper.
The second model follows a format used by the Victorian Premier Cricket competition.
This structure involves one-day, two-day and T20 matches all being played in the regular season for premiership points.
The T20 matches would be double-headers, with the second grade playing first at 12.30pm followed by the firsts at 4pm. These matches would be used to form the preliminary rounds of the regional T20 tournament, eliminating the need for further mid-week or Sunday games until finals.
The third option being considered is for each club to play nine two-day games and nine T20 matches for premiership points.
Like option two, the T20s would also form part of the regional tournament.
Across all models, a top six finals system has also been raised. This could see the grand final changed from a four-day fixture to a two-day game in the first grade competition.
In his email to clubs, BCA operations officer Greg Wakeling reiterated that the options put forward were only drafts and not set in concrete.
“In the interest of transparency, we’re making them available at this very early stage of the year to allow for as many people as possible to see what options could be available,” Wakeling said.
“As with any draft, things can be changed. Further discussion at board level will occur in the coming weeks/months in relation to what is offered.”
Meanwhile, the first forum to discuss the establishment of a Ballarat female cricket club was held on Monday night.
The Ballarat Cricket Association is spearheading the venture, with the initial focus on establishing a senior women’s team for 2018-19.
Monday’s forum was held at the BCA’s Eastern Oval headquarters.