IT’S been a manic start to the Sunraysia Cricket Association (SCA) season.
Teams faced seven matches in less than a month, but finally today we return to the traditional two-day format.
The white ball game has provided plenty of entertainment and, although it needs some tweaking, overall it’s been pretty well received.
My only criticism is the number of matches crammed into such a short time frame.
I understand the rationale behind the fixturing of more Twenty20 games, but I’m still not convinced about the practicality of it.
Two matches on the one day, particularly three weeks in a row, might have pushed things a bit far.
But that’s just my opinion – I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who would disagree.
The SCA board has had to make some decisions on the run this year because of the members’ late appointment and they have been open about the fact they will be conducting a thorough review of what has and hasn’t worked at the end of the season.
The new format has certainly got people talking and that is a good thing.
Whether you agree with the new fixture or not, the one thing it has done is breathe new life into local cricket.
I’ve had a few people comment to me that playing more limited-overs cricket provides some teams with an advantage over others.
I can agree with that to a certain extent, but I still think good sides and players adapt.
If you look at the ladder as it stands after the first seven rounds, I think it represents what most people would have predicted.
Irymple, Workers Gol Gol and Mildura Settlers are still the top three sides.
If you look at last season, they were leading after the same number of rounds.
The fourth side, Nichols Point, are probably the team most disadvantaged by playing more one-day and Twenty20 games.
Certainly, with the side they have and the style of game they play, 80-over matches will suit them better.
But they will get their chance over the next few weeks, when there are three consecutive two-day matches, to stake their claim.
Cricket is no different to any other sport – an even competition is what creates interest.
We saw last weekend, when Coomealla Wentworth knocked off one of the top sides Workers Gol Gol, how Twenty20 cricket can even things up.
No one gave Coomie any chance going into the game, but such is the unpredictability of the shorter format, things can go either way. It just takes a bit of luck.
And while traditionalists like me prefer the battle between bat and ball the longer game creates, I think the new format is a winner.
