Bartercard Premier Cricket Expression of Interest 鈥 phase one complete

Cricket Victoria (CV) has received eight expression of interests from across community cricket to join the Bartercard Premier Cricket competition as from season 2015-16 and has confirmed that five of those will be invited to participate in the second stage formal application process.

The five organisations are the Ballarat Cricket Association, Hoppers Crossing Cricket Club, Melton Cricket Club, Plenty Valley Cricket Club and Werribee Cricket Club.

The vacancy was created by the confirmation recently of a merger between existing Men’s Premier clubs Dandenong and Hawthorn Monash University.

The merged club will continue as Dandenong-Hawthorn CC in 2015-16.

The competition would otherwise be reduced to 17 teams at that time and necessitate a bye.

CV Chief Executive Officer Tony Dodemaide was pleased with the initial interest given the strong preference to avoid a bye in Premier Cricket as well as the desire to increase the footprint of Premier Cricket in key areas.

“We don’t believe a bye is appropriate in the most senior men’s competition in this state,” Dodemaide said.

“Our most talented and developing players should be playing at every opportunity and our best-equipped and highest-quality grounds should not be lying idle during the summer if we can help it.

“With respect to increasing the footprint of our most senior competition, an extensive review of Premier Cricket in 2010 recommended that the competition needed to be accessible to talented male and female cricketers across Melbourne as the metropolitan area expands.

“It further identified growth areas currently unrepresented that might be incorporated when there was opportunity and a sound business case to do so. This recommendation, along with others, was overwhelmingly approved by our members at the time.

“The majority of applicants selected to progress through to the next phase recognise that objective, and indicates where our focus lies in relation to key growth areas without a current Men’s Premier Cricket Club.

“The clear exception to this is Ballarat. Though not within the Melbourne metropolitan area, we are certainly interested to hear more from the Ballarat Cricket Association, who have a strong history of producing talented cricketers. Regional Victoria is a key area of focus for CV currently, and we have commissioned a review of country cricket under former ICC CEO David Richards which is now underway. With this in mind, we look forward to receiving a blueprint from the Ballarat Cricket Association on how they see Premier Cricket working within their area and with the rest of the competition.

“Three of the other applications are from very strong Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association clubs in Melton, Plenty Valley and Werribee. These clubs are located in the rapidly growing areas of Melton, Whittlesea and Wyndham. We have also shortlisted Hoppers Crossing Cricket Club, currently affiliated with the Victorian Turf Cricket Association and also based in the City of Wyndham, who are a massive community cricket club with six senior teams and nine junior teams. All five have the opportunity to now provide detail on how they would undertake the progression to Premier Cricket.”

The formal application process requires each entity to produce a plan for the future and to demonstrate how they will deliver on the strategy for Victorian cricket as a leading club within the Bartercard Premier Cricket competition.

This phase requires a submission to the CV Premier Cricket Committee by Friday, January 16, 2015.

Following the review of these applications, a shortlisted number from within the five entities will be invited to an interview with the CV Premier Cricket Committee.

A final decision, subject to the endorsement of CV members, is expected in March 2015.