Dust the whites off... two-day cricket will be back in BDCA first and second XI next season

THE traditional two-day format of the game is returning to the Bendigo District Cricket Association next season.

For its first and second XI competitions, the BDCA will revert to its fixture of nine two-day games where all teams play each other once, plus several rounds of one-day matches, which is still to be finalised.

That figure though had been consistently an accompanying four one-day rounds in the lead-up to last season's change in format in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Given the uncertainty the impact COVID-19 threatened to have on the competition, the BDCA last season bucked with tradition to play a season of entirely one-day games over 18 rounds, plus finals.

According to BDCA historian Darren Rodda, it was only the second time in the competition's history when a season was purely one-day games, with the other being in 1942-43 during World War 2.

However, following recent feedback from clubs, two-day cricket will be back in the first and second XI next season, while a decision on the format for all other grades is still to be worked through.

"At this stage from what we've asked of our clubs, certainly first and second XI will be going back to a traditional format of having two-day cricket coming back," BDCA president Travis Harling said on Thursday.

"We still need to clarify with the clubs around their preferences for the structure of the morning competitions... there are a few clubs who feel it's reasonably convenient to have morning cricket as one-day games."

The format of the returning Twenty20 competition - such as when games will be played and should they be incorporated into the season-proper for points - will also be a discussion point in planning for 2021-22.

Meanwhile, the BDCA season got through with only one COVID-19-related interruption when round 15 on February 13 had to be abandoned after the state government called a snap lockdown the previous day.

"There was a lot of uncertainty and a bit of frustration going into the season, but once the clubs understood everything that needed to be done to make it work, they did a really good job and I'm extremely proud of all of them and the board to get through the season the way we did," Harling said.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: