THE Orange District Cricket Association will run a revised Twenty20 competition starting next Friday, after the delays at Wade Park forced mass draw changes to both first grade and second grade competitions for the 2011-12 season.
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Out of necessity more than anything, the old Orange Premier League, which pitted mate against mate with teams selected following a draft-like system from each of the six ODCA first grade sides, has made way for a month-long club-based competition.
Jack Brabham will play host to the shortest form of the game this year with Centrals taking on Orange City and Cavaliers set to meet CYMS in the first round.
Both games will be played at the same time.
ODCA president Mark Frecklington said following the confusion surrounding Wade Park’s availability, it was better to think outside the box and use the grounds the association already had at its disposal.
“It was just a matter of getting it up and running,” Frecklington said.
“We needed to get it organised shortly so a club-based format was something we decided to go with. And with the uncertainty surrounding Wade Park being finished, it was just easier this way.”
Kinross won’t be participating in the competition.
The students will be on Christmas holidays shortly and decided it was best to not take part in the Twenty20 competition.
Frecklington understood, adding having the four teams still allowed for two competitive games of cricket.
He believes playing the Twenty20 matches at the same time, at the same venue is also more attractive to spectators.
“That’ll be interesting. We thought maybe with both games going on at the one time there will be a bit more interest hopefully ... you never know,” he said.
The ODCA’s day-night competition, the Royal Hotel Cup, has also been changed.
Sunday, December 11, will see a full round of games played from 10am.
Australia Day will also see three Royal Hotel Cup games played.
Frecklington said it was important the shorter forms of the game were completed soon so as not to affect sides’ two-day cricket form leading into semi-finals in March.
“There is an option to move a round to Monday nights should Wade Park be delayed further. But we’ve been told definitely January,” he said.
“Each team will hopefully get a few games under lights.”
The new ODCA Twenty20 competition starts on Friday from 5.15pm at Jack Brabham.
