CRICKET
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
IN a crushing blow for country cricketers state wide, the SCG Country Cup has effectively been scrapped, but incumbent Orange coach Dave Boundy is looking at the potential positives.
NSW Country Cricket Association’s committee of management meeting held last month revealed there is no sponsorship forthcoming from the SCG Trust to support the competition, all but guaranteeing it won’t be held henceforth.
“I’d heard rumours of it happening, and it’s a bit disappointing but if I’m honest, it doesn’t surprise me all that much,” Boundy, also a former Orange, Mitchell Cricket Council and Western Zone player, said.
“Newcastle teams have always dominated that competition. I actually think the gloss came off the competition for us a few years ago once we made the final eight [in 2010-11, the only time Orange has qualified].
“It was always squashed in at the start of the season, and the final eight carnival was played at a bad time over Christmas. It never served as a selection tool either, for Western Zone or other areas.
“I think with no deadlines now, it could definitely benefit the area.”
Boundy said the potential to spread, and even expand, the Western Premier League (WPL) is now a real possibility.
From an Orange perspective, he also conceded less games in the representative schedule could be a good thing.
“Without that deadline you could turn the WPL into a genuine round robin competition, played across the entire season,” he explained.
“It means you could play more selection trials, there’s a lot of positives which could come from the decision.
“For us, people aren’t wanting to commit to a full Saturday and Sunday of cricket anymore, it’s becoming harder and harder to pick our side. In that respect less cricket, or more spread out cricket, could be a good thing.”
There is potential for some form of the competition to remain, but it seems said potential stakeholders would prefer a Twenty20-style competition, which could be aligned with NSW’s two Big Bash League franchises, the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.
“That’s a definite possibility I’d say, and it will certainly get the younger players interested, which is what you want,” Boundy said.