Midweek cricket in store for new year

Clubs have signed off on adding a Twenty20 competition to the new-look season structure with a draft draw already in place.

Two-day cricket will not be part of the upcoming season, with all 15 rounds to be one-day affairs.

However with a six-week gap between one-day rounds a new Twenty20 competition, which will not go towards the overall points this season, will be introduced.

With matches to be played under lights throughout the week plus on weekends, Wagga Cricket operations manager Paul McKelvie likened it to the Big Bash.

"It's around the same time as the Big Bash on telly and we are trying to do 15 games, plus the final, in about two and a half weeks," McKelvie said.

"We're going to be playing on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday as a standalone comp.

"We're trying something different in the COVID times."

Unlike some previous standalone Twenty20 competitions in Wagga, the existing six clubs will take their place.

However Wagga Cricket is looking for new sponsors to come on board to help with the costs for lighting for the Twenty20 competition.

Anyone interested can contact McKelvie by emailing wwcaom19@gmail.com.

As it stands, the new competition will get under way on January 7 with the final to be under lights between the top two teams on the ladder on January 22 ahead of the weekend off for Australia Day.

The one-day competition will resume from its break on January 30 with the final to be played on March 20.

The one-day competition will start on October 24 with premiers Wagga City taking on Wagga RSL, South Wagga hosts Kooringal Colts while St Michaels face Lake Albert.

Both Robertson Oval and Rawlings Park are unavailable with the Saints and Bulls to play at Forest Hill instead.

One-day matches will start at the earlier time of 11am this season in another change to the usual structure but the 50-over format has been well-received by clubs.

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