Melbourne Metro Cricket Strategy FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Background

In 2014, Cricket Victoria developed ‘A Changing Game’ which was a report prepared by the Melbourne Metropolitan Turf Taskforce (MMTCT).

The report proposed a need for the structure of turf cricket in Melbourne to change to adapt to the challenges which confront all sports.

In March 2016, Cricket Victoria progressed with the implementation of the first stage of proposal, when Cricket Southern Bayside was established after the southern based clubs from the Victorian Turf Cricket Association (VTCA) indicated they wanted to follow the Cricket Victoria model.

In November 2016, a Steering Committee made up of representatives from associations across Melbourne was developed in conjunction with the Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union (VMCU) to supersede the MMTCT. The Steering Committee decided that any proposed changes to the structure of cricket in Melbourne should focus on all facets of the sport, not just turf competitions.

Cricket Victoria has worked closely with the Steering Committee and the VMCU to develop a blueprint (Melbourne Metropolitan Cricket – A strategy to embrace a changing game) to transform the structure and resourcing of cricket across metropolitan Melbourne.

What are the benefits?

Associations

• Provision of career staff to reduce the workload on volunteer resources
• Local resources can concentrate on game day issues
• Funding to support local volunteers
• Support of strategic resources for development of the game at all levels

Clubs

• Greater club and volunteer development support
• Coaching accreditation support at all levels
• Reduced financial demands
• Evenly skilled competitions allowing clubs to ‘find their level’
• Junior development support and planned talent development
• Opportunities to develop women’s cricket
• Greater player recruitment support
• Greater connection to ‘bigger picture’ of cricket
• Ability to improve social revenue
• Access to sponsorship benefits and deals
• Access to full time competition management staff
• Removed duplication of resources

Players

• Range of formats to suit the needs of each player
• Reduction in travel time and costs
• Greater access to player development resources
• Defined playing pathway from entry level to elite
• Evenly skilled competition

What will happen to the local history of competitions?

Cricket has been played across metropolitan Melbourne for over 150 years. Many competitions and clubs have a rich history which we aim to preserve through this strategy.

Each zone will be designed locally with a view to maintain (where possible) competition names and awards. Life Members, premiership and individual award winners and Hall of Fame inductees will be acknowledged and recognized.

How will the clubs be aligned within the zones?

The zones will be set up to align with the Local Government boundaries. The geographic location of club’s main ground/club rooms will dictate which zone it fits into.

There will be some exceptions as noted below.

• Clubs currently competing within a competition will be able to stay aligned to that competition.
• Turf clubs in the Northern Metro zone will be able to compete in the Eastern Metro or North West Metro zones.

Will this mean that synthetic competitions need to merge?

Under the proposed strategy, no synthetic competition would be required to merge.
The proposal is for all of turf cricket within a geographic zone to be combined. Synthetic competitions would retain their identity and simply move under the zone entity as their governing body.

Will this mean current administrators will lose their jobs?

The full-time resources won’t eliminate the need for honorarium based administrators. The size of the zones will mean competition administrators and division secretaries will still be required.

Won’t the proposed changes mean more travel for some zones?

Whilst the North-West metro, Northern metro & East metro zones have expanded in size, the competitions will remain localized to ensure player travel is minimized.

Who will be involved in setting up the zones?

A Collaborative Group will be formed by representatives from each current association within the planned zone.

It’s not broken, so why fix it?

• Adapt to meet changing social needs
• Sustainability in a very competitive market
• Cleaner, clearer structure for all stakeholders
• Consolidation of resources and workload of volunteers

How will the Boards be set up and formed?

The boards will be formed once each entity has been established. The boards will be set up and formed through a nomination process. The members (clubs) will then vote in each of the nominations to form a board which represents the clubs. The board will consist of 6 people who are elected by the members. The entity can then appoint two additional members as they see fit.

How will Premier Clubs work better with local clubs and competitions under the proposed strategy?

With a dedicated resources working closely with the aligned Premier clubs, we are hopeful of improving the working relationship between local competitions and clubs with their neighboring Premier Clubs.

Currently, Premier Clubs are required to meet criteria set out in the Premier Cricket Development Program (PCDP). These criteria reward the Premier clubs who work closely with their local competition and clubs and ensures they are providing a benefit to cricket within the local area. For more information about the Premier Cricket Development Program (PCDP) please visit: http://community.cricket.com.au/clubs/premier-cricket-development-program

What will change

• Cricket Victoria will allocate and fund more field resources into the zone with specific areas of focus (i.e. Talent/Coach Development, Club/Competition Development & Community/Participation Development)
• Alignment of rules and playing conditions across all competitions
• Alignment of tribunal/disciplinary processes across all competitions
• Alignment of weather/extreme conditions procedures across all competitions

What won’t change

• Senior competitions won’t be required to merge
• Umpires will remain within their competition
• Competition administrators (volunteers) will still be required
• Competition history will be preserved and names of divisions won’t be changed
• Underage representative opportunities (i.e. team numbers and squads)

Who are the members of the Steering Committee?

• Claudia Fatone (Cricket Victoria – Chair)
• Mark Keating (VMCU)
• Michael Hawking (Dandenong District CA)
• Mike Slattery (Eastern CA)
• Rod Kimmitt (Cricket Southern Bayside)
• William Craddock (Mercantile CA)
• Zoran Havranek (Victorian Turf CA)
• Philip Crooks (North Metro CA)
• Tony Dodemaide (Cricket Victoria)
• Rohan O’Neill (Cricket Victoria)
• Russell Thomas (Cricket Victoria – Chair from 2016 to 2017)
• Phil O’Meara (Victorian Sub-District CA – member from 2016 to 2017)