A new junior cricket program is set to boost the number of young cricketers in Melbourne’s north.
Clubs from the Diamond Valley and North Metro cricket associations met last week to hear about the program from Cricket Australia’s market development senior manager Matt Dwyer.
The program, Milo T20 Blast, is to be introduced across the state this cricket season.
Dwyer said the program, which looks to capitalise on the hype of the Big Bash League, includes modified games to help increase the skill level of junior players before they play in proper teams.
Teams from different clubs all attend the same sessions at a central location.
He said many children struggled to have the necessary skills when they started playing in a team and this new program would help fill the gap that exists between Milo in2cricket and competition cricket.
“There’s a lot of inconsistencies, especially in the bowling skills once children start playing games,” he said at the meeting.
“This way you can judge a child’s skills and then promote them from Blast to competition when they are ready.”
Cricket Victoria Northern Metro regional cricket manager David Hall said the initial response from clubs had been positive.
“There was overwhelming support for the T20 Blast,” he said after the meeting.
“Diamond Valley’s Tony Nash has filed a report with his association’s executive to provide a view of what they gained from this meeting.
“They are now working on a structure and how it could work.
“They have a number of under-10 grades, so there’s potential to replace one of those grades with the Blast.”
Early discussions have thrown up South Morang as a possible location to host T20 Blast.
“It might be the case that we have a number of locations as the association goes across Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea council areas,” Hall said.
“Certainly in Whittlesea there is a growth corridor so that’s why South Morang was put forward as it has the potential to capture that growth.”
Plans are further advanced in the NMCA which includes Keon Park, Bundoora Park and Lalor Warriors cricket clubs.
Hall said he hoped the program would help clubs without junior grades expand to include them.
“Dennis Cricket Club had come-and-try days last season which were successful and that started the discussions about how it would work for this season.
“They are looking at this [Blast] instead of an under-nine competition.”
Hall said it would be a big development for cricket in Melbourne’s north.
“It is likely to grow in participants over the coming years. The skill development is a lot greater and the kids will be better prepared for success.”
