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THE Bendigo District Cricket Association is working on a variety of starting date options for its 2020-21 season that stretch into as late as February.
The BDCA had initially hoped it would be able to start its season as planned on Saturday, October 3, but concedes the current state government restrictions will make that highly unlikely.
Regional Victoria is currently in stage three restrictions until September 13, which places a ban on all community sport training and competition.
While the detail of proposals is still being developed, the BDCA is putting together fixture options based around seasons starting late October, mid November, early December, mid January and early February.
What has become the norm for the BDCA is for a home and away season to feature 22 days of cricket - nine two day matches and four one-day games - followed by two weekends of finals.
If the BDCA season could get going by October 31 that would leave enough time for a season to comprise 18 Saturdays (either nine two-day games or 18 one-day games), semi-finals on March 20-21 and grand final on March 27-28, with two weeks off over Christmas-New Year.
An October 31 start would - hopefully - allow teams to have been able to get a solid block of pre-season training under their belts if current restrictions are eased after September 13, but also mean the BDCA wouldn't have to fixture around the AFL grand final, which at this stage is slated for October 17.
To help with its planning the BDCA is seeking feedback from its clubs on once a green light is given for training and competition to resume, how much preparation time they would need before starting a season.
"We're putting together options depending on when sport will be given the all clear to resume," outgoing BDCA president Wayne Walsh said.
"They are exceptional circumstances at the moment everyone is dealing with."
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