The Ballarat Cricket Association has defied recommendations from Cricket Australia to abandon play due to the threat of COVID-19 and plans to forge on with a shortened first grade grand final this weekend.
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In a media statement released on Tuesday, CA "strongly recommended" that all amateur cricket played within the community should cease, including training.
But following a meeting of BCA officials on Tuesday evening, it was decided the finals series competition-wide would press on with some changes.
The first grade decider between Darley and Golden Point has been trimmed from four days - across the next two weekends - to a Saturday/Sunday clash on March 21 and 22. It will be played at the Eastern Oval in Ballarat.
Seconds, thirds, fourths and fifths will play one-day semi finals this Saturday and one-day grand finals on Sunday.
All junior grand finals will remain as scheduled this Friday and across the weekend.
In an email to clubs, the BCA said it reserved the right to review the decisions made on Tuesday in light of any further information that might be issued by health authorities in the coming days.
The decision to play comes after the sport's national body recommended community cricket be cancelled.
"Based on expert advice from CA's Chief Medical Officer John Orchard and recent government information we want to ensure that cricket is doing everything it can to contribute to the global effort to slow, and eventually stop, the spread of coronavirus," the Cricket Australia statement read.
"While cricket is a relatively safe and non-contact sport there are considerable measures that need to be in place to adhere to expert advice around reducing the risk of spreading the virus. We focused specifically on minimising the risk and impact on the cricket communities that we lead and serve, as well as their families."
Darley is looking to win its maiden first grade premiership in the BCA, while Golden Point is chasing its third in the last five seasons.
The Lions have gone the entire 2019-20 campaign unbeaten, while the Pointies finished the regular rounds in second spot on the table.
Darley beat reigning premiers East Ballarat in last weekend's semi-final, while Golden Point proved too good for Mt Clear.
CA on Tuesday also advised that the Sheffield Shield final had been cancelled and New South Wales declared champions after leading the competition through nine rounds. New South Wales had accumulated 50.76 points and was clear of Victoria (38.53 points).