The most significant changes will include reductions in pitch length, boundary size and the number of fielders, all based on the different levels of juniors’ development – from Milo In2Cricket all the way up to stage three players.

For the youngest players, pitch and boundary length will be slashed to 14 and 20 metres respectively. In stage one (defined as the playing the game stage) the pitch will lift to 16 metres and the boundary to 40.

In stage two (playing and competing) players will play on an 18-metre pitch and 45-metre boundaries, while in stage three (playing and competing) the field becomes full-sized.

At the representative level in the final two stages, the field is full-sized.

All the changes are based on research conducted on a national stage, looking at the age and height of junior players.

The research determined a full-length wicket was too big for a some of the younger players and that changes should be made to accommodate them.

Based on that, 171 clubs across Australia tested the new formats and recorded statistics such as runs scored, number of balls and shot placement. The outcomes were passed on to associations nation-wide and an agreement was made to roll out the new formats over the next three years.

Cricket NSW general manager of game development Ivan Spyrdz explained how the changes are expected to positively impact younger players.

“What it means for a young child who’s nine or 10 is they’re not having to lob the ball like a hand grenade,” he said.

“They can start practicing at a good line and length and get some speed behind the ball rather than just trying to get it up the other end.

In terms of the changes to the number of players, they’ll be reduced as well based on the different stages of development. In2Cricket and T20 Blast will have six-eight per team, stage one will have seven and stage two will have nine.

“It’s going to make it more action-packed. There’ll be more gaps to hit through and more kids will get involved,” Spyrdz said.

Spyrdz was in Orange on Tuesday to take a guided tour of the proposed site for Wade Park’s Centre of Excellence, expected to be completed this time next year – if everything goes to plan.

“We’re very humbled and proud that Orange City Council has been so proactive in this area building sporting infrastructure and we applaud that,” Spyrdz said.

“Once we heard they had enthusiasm to have a centre here we were right there with them.”