Tara Murray
The waiting game continues for cricketers across Melbourne’s north-west with rain and unplayable grounds playing havoc and it could go on another couple of weeks in some competitions.
Competitions across Melbourne’s north-west cancelled all games, men’s, women’s and juniors, on the weekend after heavy rain last week leaving many grounds unplayable.
For many competitions, it’s the fifth straight week play has been cancelled. The Diamond Valley, North Metro and North West Metropolitan cricket associations had some games round one, but it has been slim pickings since.
The Victorian Premier Cricket women’s competitions have managed three weeks of play, while there has been none in the men’s competition.
Victorian Turf Cricket Association president Zoran Havranek said it could be another two or three weeks before they get play due to more rain predicted and the number of grounds out of action.
“It’s not just us, it’s every local association going through the same battle,” he said. “It’s one of those things that is out of our control.
“We have 15 grounds out of action. Playing on turf is very different from hard wicket.
“Many of the grounds are water logged. Many can’t get equipment on the grounds.
“I don’t even feel like we get on in the next two or three weeks.”
Havranek said some of the grounds impacted by the Maribyrnong River flooding might not be usable until December
He said with different bases on the grounds, clay based in the north and more sand in the west, was another thing they had to take into consideration.
With four days already lost, with the fifth rescheduled, some players and supporters on social media have called for the fixture to change.
Havranek said that was something they were considering.
“We’ll put it out to the clubs and let them decide,” he said.
“The clubs are our members and they are the ones closer to the players.”
Havranek said he understood players were frustrated. After two years of COVID-19 impacting cricket, he said this is another blow for local clubs.
“It can be a bit disheartening,” he said. “Everyone is ready to go and excited about playing in whites and playing with the red ball.
“For the wider community, sport is something that draws people together.”
The Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association made the call to change its fixture before the latest wash out.
All games before Christmas are now one-dayers.
“The feedback received from clubs since the washout on Saturday is, whilst all clubs would like to play two-day cricket, the clear majority want to play the 15 rounds,” VSDCA secretary Ken Hilton said.
“The original fixture had first and second XI playing a mix of one and two day games ( nine rounds) up to the Christmas-New Year break. The board has decided that we still retain the nine rounds but convert them all to one-day games.
“In the new year we proceed as per the advertised fixture.”
The NMCA on Sunday night announced changes to its fixture. The competition will revert to a complete one-day format.
The call has already been made that there will be no play this weekend to give grounds more time to recover.
