Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union backs new junior formats
The peak body for metropolitan cricket in Melbourne will continue to lead the roll-out of Australian cricket’s junior formats after the Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union (VMCU) voted to use the new formats in next summer’s Mitchell Shield and Browne Plate competitions.
The VMCU executive has adopted the Stage 2 Representative (Junior) Formats for implementation in these key Under-12 representative competitions which bolsters the large number of club-based competitions already using the new formats around the country.
Cricket Victoria Coach and Talent Manager Dean Russ said players will vie for selection – when eligible – in their Region teams to compete in the Cricket Victoria Youth Premier League at Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 level.
These competitions were the proving ground and pathway for the likes of Australian representatives Meg Lanning, Molly Strano, James Pattinson, Glenn Maxwell and Jon Holland.
Cricket Victoria Club and Competitions Manager Scott Tutton said the junior formats were delivering a better cricket experience for junior players.
“The Australian Cricket Junior Formats provide the opportunity for boys and girls playing club cricket in their formative years to do so on grounds with shorter boundaries, appropriately sized pitches and less players on the field with all players having the ability to bat, bowl, and contribute in the field,” Tutton said.
“The formats have been very well received with over 1000 junior club teams in Victoria playing under them in season 2017-18, in addition to the Under-12 and 14 girls representative competitions conducted by the VMCU. The evidence from scorecard data shows large increases in boundaries hit, wickets taken and a reduction in the number of wides and no-balls bowled.
VMCU President Mark Keating said that the evidence Australian Cricket had gathered made it a straightforward decision.
“It just makes sense. There has been so much positive feedback from our member associations around how the Junior Formats have impacted game play at a club level. When that is combined with the fact that the School Sport Australia Under-12 competition is looking at utilising Junior Formats for the very best young talent, we need to ensure we are preparing our players for those opportunities and also showcasing the game of cricket in its ideal state,” Keating said.
Junior Formats Ambassador and Victorian bowler James Pattinson grew up playing for Doveton in the Dandenong District Cricket Association at a time when the formats played were traditional.
“I remember when I was a six-year-old playing and I was playing Under-12s and didn’t really get much of a go,” Pattinson said in a recent interview with Cricket Australia.
“I managed to face a couple of balls one day and then I was out. I spent a lot of time sitting around, but looking at the new formats it’s great to see the kids run around and how much involvement they have. Getting the opportunity to actually get confidence by playing is important.”
Stage 2 Representative Junior Formats
Time: 120 mins (20 over), or 240 mins (40 over)
Overs per team: 20 overs or 40 overs
Pitch Length: 18 metres
Number of players: 11 (Fielding restrictions imposed to encourage positive stroke play)
Boundary: 50 metres (maximum)
Ball Size: 142 grams
The Mitchell Shield and Browne Plate competitions will be played in January 2019 along with other age-based representative competitions across metropolitan Melbourne.
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