Premier Cricket Program kicks off; reaching record number of clubs

4 October, 2018

With Premier Cricket either underway or beginning this weekend, clubs are in the final stages of locking down members for the 2018-19 season under the ACA Premier Cricket Program.

This season will see in excess of 170 ACA members participate in the program, across over 100 Premier Cricket Clubs.

In 2018-19 ten new clubs are participating in the Premier Cricket Program, with the addition of all ACT clubs and the Greater Northern Raiders (Tasmania) into the Program for the first time; as well as several new teams from around the country.

This has provided more opportunities for members to engage in the Program in 2018-19.

With the number of Premier Clubs rising across the country due to expansion of male and female Premier Cricket, there has been an even greater opportunity for members to engage in the Program.

In Tasmania, University of Tasmania will have ex-Tasmanian fast bowlers Ben Hilfenhaus and Damien Wright involved this season, with Wright involved across both male and female programs.

In Victoria, Greenvale Kangaroos will be assisted by 2017-18 New South Wales coach Trent Johnston; while Melbourne Cricket Club will be coached by Australian fast bowler Adam Dale and Australian Cricket Hall of Famer Karen Rolton, who has crossed from Essendon Maribyrnong Park.

Western Suburbs District Cricket Club in Queensland have engaged ex- Australian Captain Jodie Fields, who is coaching across both male and female programs.

The players contribution to Premier Cricket now exceeds $3.5 million, in the fourth year of program.

Victoria, Tasmanian, South Australian and Western Australian Premier Cricket all kicks off this weekend, with New South Wales men and Queensland now well into 2018-19. New South Wales women and ACT Premier Cricket begins in coming weeks.

The Program

The ACA Premier Cricket Program has been designed to support 
ACA members in their post-cricket lives via a program that retains and harnesses the skill, experience and knowledge of ACA Members to identify, instruct and inspire talent through both the male and female Premier Cricket pathways.

The objectives of the program are:

  • Provide a platform for ACA members to remain in Premier Cricket through playing, coaching and talent identification roles.
  • Narrow the gap between Premier Cricket and high performance/ domestic cricket;
  • Create additional opportunities for clubs to support and enhance existing budgets and structures.
  • Grow a sustainable program that ensures Premier Cricket remains the lifeblood of Australian Cricket.
  • Retain first-class cricketers in Premier Cricket;
  • Provide a higher level of Premier Cricket competition;
  • Identify, instruct and inspire the next generation of Australian elite cricketers; and
  • To balance Premier Club objectives with the development of emerging talent.
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