WITH football out of the way, all eyes have turned towards the upcoming cricket season.
The Barber Shield A Grade competition kicks off on October 19, with six teams again set to contest the season.
West Gambier, North Sportsman’s, East Gambier, South Gambier, Mil Lel and Penola will all look to claim the season honours at the top level.
North will chase back-to-back glory, after defeating Penola in the grand final last season.
B Grade sees 10 teams in the mix.
West, North, East, Mil Lel, Penola, Kongorong, Kalangadoo and Yahl will be joined by newcomers South and Centrals.
East will join the C Grade ranks this season, which includes North, South, Centrals, Tarpeena, Glencoe, Yahl and Kalangadoo.
The junior ranks look strong, with six teams in the Under 16 competition – West, South, North, East, Mil Lel and Millicent.
Seven teams fill the Under 14 ranks – West, South, Mil Lel, East/North, Kongorong, Penola and Millicent.
The Under 12 competition trumps them all with 11 teams in the mix.
West Blue, West Red, Mil Lel Green, Mil Lel Gold, Kongorong, East, North, South and Millicent will be joined by Centrals and Penola.
For association president George Kidman everything is on track for a good start to the season, with positive numbers across the board leading up to summer.
“We have had an increased participation which is bucking the trend of cricket in rural and urban areas,” Kidman said.
“We are keen to listen to players and see what they want and seem to be heading in the right direction.”
Kidman said that was evident within the junior ranks, which flows on from the in2Cricket programs run around the region.
“I think we are seeing the dividends of our in2Cricket programs with the 8-9-10 year olds,” he said.
“That has translated into perhaps an 11-team competition which is really positive.”
Kidman said the C Grade competition was also showing positive signs for emerging cricketers and those more experienced heads.
“I think the Cox Bros competition seems to have created an environment where players are happy to stay in the game a bit longer,” he said.
“It also seems to be a good way to bring those 15-16 year old boys into senior cricket.”
Of course most eyes are on the Barber Shield competition, where six teams remain in what Kidman described as a good standard of cricket after two clubs pulled out before last season.
“We are in a spot where the standard of the competition went up last season, which suggests we now have the perfect amount of talent spread across the six clubs,” he said.
“All of those clubs have a turf wicket and as it stands, in the executive’s opinion, if you want to play A Grade cricket in the Mount Gambier competition you have to play for one of those six clubs.
“We think it is a great competition – you play everyone once in a one-dayer and everyone once in a two-dayer and that is 15 weeks of cricket.
“It is a terrific draw and the season is not too long.”
The competition will not see a one-day cup this season, but will again include the popular Twenty20 format run over the December-January period.
Regarding the turf wickets, Kidman said he was confident all would be ready for the season launch.
“The couch has come out of dormancy at the right time and we will be right to go on October 19,” he said.
“Garry Ashby is in charge of the five turf wickets in Mount Gambier and Penola looks after its pitch.
“We are lucky to have Garry – he is very good at what he does.
“We are also lucky to have those pitches, which has enabled us to host events like the Australian Country Championships in the past.”
While the Barber Shield is a turf wicket competition, the B Grade will also utilise the turf where possible, along with the T20 competition.
It all equates to a good summer of cricket.
“There has been some great stuff going on around the clubs,” Kidman said.
“South Gambier has a third team up and Centrals a second team.
“With the increase in junior participation it is all positive.
“In A Grade North and Penola will both be a bit weaker, South will be a bit stronger and the other clubs are right there.
“It will be an even six-team competition.”
The A Grade draw is now available on the MyCricket website.
