On Thursday, Cricket Australia announced the fixtures for the fast-approaching 2018-19 domestic and international season.
Interestingly, there are no pink-ball Tests or JLT Sheffield Shield matches (although the Dukes ball will make its return after the Christmas break) and no much-maligned Cricket Australia XI in a revamped JLT One-Day Cup.
However, the most interesting thing for me was the introduction of a Twenty20 ‘tournament’ in the Toyota Futures League, Australian cricket’s Second XI competition. The traditional seven rounds of four-day matches has been maintained, but late January (28th to the 31st) will see six T20 matches played between NSW Metropolitan, ACT/NSW Country, Queensland and a Cricket Australia Under 19 team in Sydney, while Perth will see Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania face off.
CA’s Head of Cricket Operations Peter Roach believes that this new format will allow Premier Cricket players to show their wares and push for KFC Big Bash League (BBL) selection.
“The Futures League format has been adapted to include Twenty20 matches.”
“Exposing our emerging and younger players to the shortest form of cricket has been recognised as a priority in our strategy, and the holding of the Futures League T20 round in late January should also allow for well-performed players from our Premier Cricket T20 competitions to be given the opportunity to shine on this stage,” he said.
At this stage, CA has not released any further information regarding the rules of the T20 tournaments, whether the points accrued from these matches will go toward overall Futures League points or whether it will be a stand-alone competition with a final.
Would players benefit from being exposed to shorter form cricket earlier? (AAP Image/Mark Dadswell)
It’s fantastic news for Premier Cricket players across the country, with the knowledge that quality grade cricket T20 performance can result in Futures League representation, a far cry from the former set-up where predominantly two-day performances led to selection.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for guys who aren’t being selected in BBL squads to represent their State and show what they can do, which may lead to injury replacement player selection or franchise opportunities down the track.
I wonder where this leaves actual BBL teams. I think it would be a good idea for squad members and BBL Academy members to mix in with the best performers from each State’s premier cricket T20 competition, for example, if a Sydney Sixers/Thunder player was left out of the squad for a home match, they could play a day or two for NSW Metro or ACT/NSW Country and add some experience and strengthen the competition.
The test for the introduction of the T20 cricket tournament will be in 12 months time, if any of the players selected in their respective teams go on to represent their State or a BBL franchise next season.
It is also unclear whether the CA Under 19 team will be the one selected from the U19 National Championships (,ale), or a composite side made up of talented players who show T20 promise that don’t make that team.
There are plenty of talented cricketers aged under 19 who you’d imagine could make handy inclusions for that team, namely BBL franchise community and development rookies, or already-contracted players such as Melbourne Renegades trio Zak Evans, Mackenzie Harvey and Will Sutherland (if they’re not already playing in Victoria’s team!)
This initiative also gives cricketers aged under 19 at national championship level something to aim for after the carnival is complete, as they have the opportunity to play against first-class and List A representatives in Futures League come late January.
My tip for a fast bowling spot in this team is Queensland fast bowler Blake Edwards. Although he has had his injury troubles, he is capable of bowling around 140km/h and has represented Australia at U16 and U19 level against Pakistan in December last year.
He took an impressive 31 wickets at 21.61 (BB 4/33) from 20 matches in 2017/18 for Western Suburbs, the same club which has Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat quick Brendan Doggett on the books. He also made his Futures League debut in the final round of last season, finishing with match figures of 4/126 (BB 3/55).
Look out for him steaming in late January!
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