Cricket ACT is doing all it can to build a Territory-based pathway for players but moves being considered by Cricket Australia could thwart this. Photo: Jennifer Andrew.
When it comes to the ACT’s cricket aspirations it would appear that it’s one step forward, one step back.
Just as the ACT ramps up its campaign to secure a Big Bash licence, an obstacle on another front has the potential to impact on pathways to high-level competitions.
Cricket ACT has long prided itself on competing as a stand-alone team against the likes of NSW, Queensland and Victoria in three age groups at the National Championships.
The ACT fields teams in the under 16 and under 19 women’s and the under 17 and under 19s men’s at the national titles.
It has provided a visible pathway for the Territory’s most promising junior cricketers.
As it currently stands, the National Championships in these age divisions fields teams from each state and territory, with NSW and Victoria fielding both metro and country teams.
But a review is under way which could see a reduction in the number of teams competing, with the ACT, the Northern Territory and Tasmania merged into a combined allies team.
NSW and Victoria would field single teams, wiping out the separate country and metro concepts.
Reportedly the aim of the proposal is to lift standards.
But it could result in a far smaller pool of players being exposed to the higher level of competition and potentially a drop-off in players disenchanted with a lack of opportunity and abandoning aspirations of playing for Australia.
It makes little sense to strip the ACT and Tasmania of fielding individual teams.
Tasmania, the current BBL and WBBL champions, as well as boasting Sheffield Shield and Women’s National League teams, could justifiably push for greater presence in any allies team.
There has been little indication of how such teams would be selected.
This would have a significant impact on the ACT where there is already a drift of young talent who have come through the highly respected Canberra pathways system, to states fielding Shield and Big Bash teams.
And spare a thought for country players in NSW and Victoria who already face a battle for exposure.
Wagga Wagga, which has produced many a champion cricket, both male and female, is a case in point.
In a statement reported on the Fox Sports website, Cricket Australia said no changes had been locked in, although it was confirmed that a review was under way.
