The Bendigo District Cricket Association has asked clubs for feedback on key areas as it prepares for the start of the 2020-21 season.
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COVID-19 restrictions permitting, the BDCA hopes to start an 18-round one-day season on October 31.
With the majority of cricket competitions around the state reverting to one-day matches because of COVID-19 restrictions, ball manufacturer Kookaburra has indicated that it might not be able to meet the demand for an increase in white cricket balls.
BDCA one-day matches in first XI, second, third XI and under-18s are usually played with a white ball and players wear their respective club's coloured uniform.
With white balls in hot demand, and the extra costs for balls that clubs will have to meet this year, the BDCA has asked all 10 clubs for feedback on what coloured balls they would like to see used this summer - the traditional red ball used for two-day games, the white ball or the orange ball that has been utilised by the BDCA in its Twenty20 competition.
Use of the red ball would likely result in clubs wearing white uniforms rather than their coloured set.
Cricket Victoria is expected to release return to play and training guidelines for community cricket clubs in the next fortnight.
Cricket Victoria's attitude towards getting competitions around the state underway is that "playing cricket in a pandemic is a privilege not a right".
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Five BDCA club captains had their say on which coloured ball works best:
Craig Howard (Sandhurst): "Personally I'd prefer white balls, but the league has to do what it has to do. I don't like the orange balls...there's no benefit with the orange ball. It has to be white or red. If there is a shortage of white balls and we have to use red balls for some of the season that would be fine. Ideally, whatever colour ball is being used in the finals is the ball you'd want to be playing with in the rounds leading into the finals."
Mitch Winter-Irving (White Hills): "I just wouldn't want orange. Visually, the orange ball looks alright, but they just don't last. The red ball is better for the bowlers. I'd probably like to play with the same colour all through the season and not change. No matter what colour the ball is...the main thing is we get to play."
Ben DeAraugo (Strathdale-Maristians): "We're happy to go with whatever colour ball the league decides. One of our players struggles to see the orange ball, but he's happy to go with it if required. If it works out that half the season is a red ball and half the season is a white ball then that would be fine. Whatever it takes to get through the season."
Ben Devanny (Strathfieldsaye): "The red balls are the best and suit batsmen and bowlers because they stay harder. The white balls tend to go a bit soft. I wouldn;t be a fan of playing with a red ball one week and then white the next. I'm not a fan of the orange ball. They seem to break a lot of bats...they're as hard as a rock."
Brent Hamblin (Kangaroo Flat): "Personally, I like the red balls better because they swing more. If you want high scoring and the ball not doing much for the bowlers then you'd go with the orange. They stay hard like concrete. I'd like to see the clubs be able to wear the coloured uniforms because of sponsorship deals. Everyone just wants to play, so players will do whatever it takes to get out there rather than being stuck at home all day."
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The BDCA has also asked clubs for feedback on the second XI competition.
In the past few years clubs have been able to play 12 players in each second XI side.
That system has worked well for two-day matches, but the league has questioned clubs on its viability this summer for one-day formats when less overs are to be played.
The BDCA is still considering its options for morning cricket.
Restrictions around facilities and change rooms and the time needed between matches to clean will have a major bearing on the length of morning matches.
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