Changes aplenty for Horsham Cricket as season start date released

After consultation with clubs, the HCA board has settled on Saturday, November 7 to kick off the senior season.

West Wimmera will re-join the A Grade ranks, after an undefeated B Grade campaign last season.

Blackheath-Dimboola and Colts will move down to B Grade.

HCA president Chris Hopper said the clubs made the decision on what grade they would compete in.

"We left it up to the clubs to decide which grade they want their teams in, and that's how we're going to run this season," he said.

"We're not going to push anyone to play where they don't feel comfortable doing so."

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A Grade sides will play one-day matches until December 19, when the competition breaks for Christmas.

HCA's foray into competitive Twenty20 fixtures will continue, with a four-week block scheduled once the season resumes on January 16.

A standalone Twenty20 grand final has been scheduled for February 14.

In its return to play guidelines released last month, Cricket Victoria recommended associations only schedule limited-overs matches to ensure the maximum number of games could be played in a season and avoid complications should a player, or a number of players, have to isolate due to COVID-19.

"The game is trending (towards the shorter-format). Some competitions do it anyway around western Victoria," Mr Hopper said.

"We're not sure whether that will be what happens with Horsham cricket in the future. But, obviously this year we're going to trial it."

A new-look season will bring with it a new finals structure across all three senior grades.

Grand finals will be contested as best-of-three match series, played over two weekends.

"With one-day cricket, it all happens pretty quickly. We just thought it would give teams an opportunity to regroup, if they have a bad first day," Mr Hopper said.

"We're all sort of hoping that we'll get to that deciding final on the second Saturday. That would be exciting."

The junior season is scheduled to start a week earlier, with an expanded under-14 competition beginning on Friday, October 30.

Blackheath-Dimboola will join the under-14 competition, while Laharum and West Wimmera Warriors will enter standalone teams, having played as an amalgamated side last season.

Mr Hopper said it was a sign of growing interest in the sport.

"Participation rates are certainly up, which is positive," he said.

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