Supporters and players can expect a new-look competition this time around.
Cricket Shepparton president Brandan Reilly said a number of new changes would come into play this year.
“We’ve gone back to the way it had been done originally, A and B-grade will combine into our higher-grade comp and obviously C, D and E-grade will make up our lower grades with the option for clubs to put in as many teams across higher and lower grades,” Reilly said.
“We’re playing a knockout competition this year rather than a round-robin in previous seasons as well.
“Clubs wanted that change to feel like they could be a bit more competitive inside the tournaments and that way it can be a bit more lively as well.”
Three knock-out rounds will be played this year, all on Thursday evening, before grand final action takes place on Thursday, February 9.
Another notable difference to the competition this year is the absence of several association clubs.
Mooroopna, Nagambie and Waaia have chosen not to field higher-grade Twenty20 sides, while Numurkah has forfeited its round one match against Kyabram.
Reilly said with the amount of cricket being played across the region, a drop in numbers hadn’t come as much of a surprise.
“Some of our sides were quite happy to focus on their Saturday competition this year rather than play on a Thursday night — I think some clubs still want to see the T20 competition incorporated on a Saturday,” Reilly said.
With extreme heat forecast for the remainder of the week and into the weekend, Reilly said the league was exercising caution ahead of this Saturday’s games.
“A and B-grade cricket will be called off if the temperature reaches 42 degrees, but the board can call it off at its discretion based on the number of days we’ve had hot weather leading into it,” Reilly said.
“We’ll take all factors into consideration, obviously players’ health and safety and well-being is the most important factor.”
Cricket Shepparton’s Twenty20 competition starts Thursday, January 12 with games to begin at 5.30pm.
