ORANGE District Cricket Association secretary Peter Jarick says it might be time the ODCA moved on from the Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket Association concept.
The Bathurst District Cricket Association this week knocked back a proposed move to a twin-city competition, citing travel and the improved standard of their own cricket in the five years since the BOIDC break-up as reasons for standing alone.
After another knock back, Jarick said it was unlikely the ODCA would propose a BOIDC reunion in the near future.
“I guess it’s probably dead in the water now,” Jarick said.
“We’ve (proposed) it now for the last couple of years and they’ve knocked it back. It’s their decision. We’re not holding any grudges.”
The last time the BOIDC was contested Cavaliers won in 2007-06.
It was the side’s fifth straight BOIDC crown.
Only one Bathurst side, Bathurst City, made the finals that year.
Orange’s dominance of the BOIDC is another reason the BDCA has decided to continue to go it alone in 2012-13, with ORC skipper Mick Fardon quoted as saying the BDCA has had “five premierships since the split and five really good grand finals in that time.”
But Jarick said the standard of cricket played in the BOIDC was unmatched.
“I definitely think the BOIDC should happen, but if (Bathurst) don’t I can see their reasons; if it’s not broken don’t fix it. But this would only make things better. It can’t make the competition worse,” he said.
Jarick said the benefits of a combined competition are there for both cities.
He believes while Bathurst’s representative team was relatively successful throughout 2011-12, winning its second consecutive President’s Cup, the tide turns regularly.
Just look at the fortunes of Orange’s side.
Western Zone SCG Cup champions in 2010-11 to winning one game 12 months on.
Jarick said the BOIDC would expose both Bathurst and Orange players to a better standard of cricket more often, improving both cities representative sides.
“I don’t see how playing better cricketers is going to make it worse,” he said.
But Jarick remained optimistic that the Bathurst and Orange rivalry wouldn’t fall by the way side.
“I’ve heard rumours they’re going to get lights. Maybe we can look at a few more Twenty20 games during the year,” he said.
Attention now turns to what form the 2012-13 ODCA will take.
And just how many teams will contest the premiership won over the last two seasons by Centrals.
“If Waratahs, which is the talk at the moment, nominate a side then we’ll have six,” Jarick said.
“I haven’t had a discussion with Orange City yet but from what I understand they won’t have the two sides this year. But I haven’t heard a great deal.”
