Team C then steps it up with a bid of $2200, before Gunn is finally sold to Team B for $2500.

Next on the market is Adam Ward, and immediately, a frenzy of bidding is under way for the all-rounder's services.

The third player to go under the hammer is Adam Burns, the fourth Brayden Stepien and so on...

Sound far-fetched for a country cricket association?

Not if you’re involved in Cricket Albury Wodonga.

Following last week’s Way Out West concept of an idea to revamp the Bendigo District Cricket Association’s Twenty20 competition to a Big Bash-style franchise format whereby five newly-created teams are sponsored by local businesses, I learned of a similar competition run by Cricket Albury Wodonga.

A chat on the phone to Cricket Albury Wodonga chairman Michael Erdeljac this week further sold me on how exciting such a concept could be in Bendigo.

The Cricket Albury Wodonga Charity Big Bash, as it’s known, has been running for three seasons in place of their former Twenty20 competition.

The Charity Big Bash features four teams sponsored by local businesses that paid $5000 - Linde Forklift Reds, Insight Clinic Privates, 2AY Aces and Tradelink Hurricanes - with each managed by a well-known retired player.

Just as it was suggested that the Bendigo Big Bash could also be open to Emu Valley, Northern United, Upper Loddon and Castlemaine District players, Albury Wodonga’s is open region-wide to cricketers, who pay a $10 registration fee to put their name forward and then pay another $20 if they are picked up by a team.

The Bendigo Big Bash proposal suggested players could be divided up among the five teams via a draft.

That differs to what’s in place in Albury, with the competition beginning with an auction night in which teams are each given a $10,000 salary cap - not real money - to build a roster.

But it’s not as simple as just sticking to budget.

Teams must select at least one district player, at least two under the age of 18, at least one player not based in Albury or Wodonga and they can not have more than three players from one club.

Do clubs splash the bulk of their cash on acquiring three or four of the elite and fill the rest with cheaper players, or do they spread their cash to try to build an even roster of talent?

Like anything when it comes to shopping, the key is finding bargain buys.

This season’s leading wicket-taker went for a mere $50 and the batsman who hit the most sixes just $100.

With the teams selected and usual Saturday rivals becoming united, the competition is played over three rounds - this season on a Friday night - culminating in a final, which was played last Sunday and attracted a crowd of 700.

I’d steer clear of Friday night and on second thoughts, last week's Sunday suggestion as well.

Instead, play the 10 round robin games on a Wednesday night - one stand-alone game a week starting late October - whereby each BDCA club could host a match, with the 1 v 2 final to be played on Australia Day at the QEO.

While such a competition has provided Cricket Albury Wodonga with an entertaining spectacle, as the name suggests, there’s a major focus on charity.

Each year a charity is selected, although this season two were picked - Albury-Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre and James McQuillan Future Fund.

Money is raised via the player registrations, team sponsors, a raffle for local businesses with the prize being the competition’s naming rights, as well as revenue from games.

I’ll leave the final word to Erdeljac: “It does work... and people come and watch it.”

ORIGINAL STORY: A BENDIGO BIG BASH?