THE sound of willow cracking on leather will ring around the grounds next month, with Cricket Shepparton aiming for a round one season start on Saturday, October 17.
With regional Victoria taking its ‘Third Step’ down the Victorian Government’s roadmap to reopening, outdoor non-contact senior sport is set to resume.
Cricket Shepparton has released its 2020/21 A- and B-Grade fixtures. The 18-round season will be exclusively made up of 45-over one-day games and will run through to March 6.
The league will use round one as a trial to ensure players are meeting COVID-19 requirements, with round two scheduled three weeks later for Saturday, November 7.
The gap in the fixture allows for two weekends which include the AFL grand final and the Melbourne Cup long weekend, with clubs advised they can play intraclub scratch matches or practice matches if they wish.
Cricket Shepparton president, David D’Elia, said no decision had been made on the league’s T20 competition, but was working with the Goulburn Valley Big Bash League to explore possibilities.
“It is good to have a planned return date, pending all clubs meeting the required ‘Return to Train & Play’ requirements. It will be good to have local sport back up and running,” Mr D’Elia said.
Shepparton/Youth Club United Cricket Club president, Steven Tate, said it was good to have some normality around the cricket season.
“It’s fantastic to finally have some certainty now and to have something to look forward to on the weekend,” he said.
“It’s been tough for some people and now it’s great to be gearing up for a cricket season.”
Meanwhile, Goulburn Murray Cricket is set for a senior men’s start date on Saturday, November 7 with the senior women’s competition starting on Sunday, November 8.
