Players celebrate domestic schedule improvements

30 July, 2019

Male and female players have applauded the improvements in the 2019-20 Domestic Schedule released today, with key priorities of players considered and included as part of the 2019-20 schedule.

Having pushed for more WNCL matches for nearly a decade, the female players have praised Cricket Australia for including two extra games after consultation with the ACA this off-season.

Male players are pleased with the structure of the One Day Domestic Cup competition with games played throughout the first half of the season, expanding on the carnival format of recent years.

Players were also happy with an additional match of domestic one-day cricket, which helped achieve these improvements, and allowing more games being played at Test venues.

In addition, players on the cusp on Australian selection will now have more opportunities to represent Australia A in both the male and female games.

Current Victorian and Australian player Kristen Beams said players are pleased with the improvements in the schedule.

“In terms of talent identification and developing your skills, I think most players from my generation would say that that they learnt through the WNCL,” Beams said.

“So for me, two additional games is massive, not only for the competition in general, but also for young players coming in.

New South Wales Captain Peter Nevill was glad more opportunities would be provided to players over an extended period, in the One-Day Domestic Cup.

“It is great to see a good result forming out of some pretty consistent feedback from the players,” Nevill said.

“It is great to see the work between the ACA and Cricket Australia to deliver that result, and now have a bit more a season feel to the competition rather than a tournament feel.”

Players celebrate domestic schedule improvements

Male and female players have applauded the improvements in the 2019-20 Domestic Schedule released today, with key priorities of players considered and included as part of the 2019-20 schedule.

Australian fast bowler Jason Behrendorff said:

“It is a great win for the players, to know that our voice is being heard.”

ACA Chief Executive Alistair Nicholson said he was satisfied with the consideration Cricket Australia showed player views when developing schedule.

“The [female] players came to us and said they want more WNCL, and they have been consistent on that, and that is something we have [been able to work out],” Nicholson said.

“The [male players] came and said we want to split up the One-Day Domestic Cup at the start of the season for the male game, and that is something we have been able to do.

“They said the BBL went on too long; and now we have shrunk that and created a more dynamic finals series.

“And then there is some more Australia A games for both male and female players.

“So overall, in the last few years players have been consistent in their feedback around a balance of formats and now we have been able to work with Cricket Australia to get some of that changed.

“Now we can look forward to the season ahead.,” Nicholson concluded.

The ACA is able to put forward player views on scheduling via the Standing Scheduling Advisory Group (SSAG).

© Australian Cricket Players Limited
Photos courtesy of Getty Images
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