Barclay Shield 2024/25

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Underarm28 said:
Their junior program fails them miserably. They have some of the best juniors who use the club. Never play seniors. I’d be telling them to look elsewhere. Takes up time and resources for zero return.
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Something not right - they've had new suburbs being built up there over the past decade and haven't cashed in. Meanwhile , a side like Riverside have gone bananas with 17 teams in a suburb surrounded by multiple clubs and they appear to be getting stronger and stronger. Their socials are better then everyone else's and they keep everyone informed with day to day activities, highlights, and upcoming events. ( I'm not plugging them either my nephews play there, they just seem a lot more switched on than other clubs in the dcva)
 
shortnsharp said:
Something not right - they've had new suburbs being built up there over the past decade and haven't cashed in. Meanwhile , a side like Riverside have gone bananas with 17 teams in a suburb surrounded by multiple clubs and they appear to be getting stronger and stronger. Their socials are better than everyone else's and they keep everyone informed with day to day activities, highlights, and upcoming events. ( I'm not plugging them either my nephews play there, they just seem a lot more switched on than other clubs in the dcva)
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There are a lot of clubs struggling, and juniors should be the lifeblood. But once that program falters it’s very hard to get back.

Clubs close to us have little to no recent juniors playing in their top 2 grades.

Money is tight to fund recruits. It appears a lot of the money in our area goes to the football clubs, and dare I say it their is a disconnect between the local football and cricket clubs.
 
Underarm28 said:
There are a lot of clubs struggling, and juniors should be the lifeblood. But once that program falters it’s very hard to get back.

Clubs close to us have little to no recent juniors playing in their top 2 grades.

Money is tight to fund recruits. It appears a lot of the money in our area goes to the football clubs, and dare I say it their is a disconnect between the local football and cricket clubs.
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100%.
 
Underarm28 said:
Their junior program fails them miserably. They have some of the best juniors who use the club. Never play seniors. I’d be telling them to look elsewhere. Takes up time and resources for zero return.
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Agree, unfortunately the new demographics of Population sees that Area and now beyond becoming heavily populated with Indian Families, their Juniors have a heavy influence of that and the majority of the good players who play at Epping Juniors already are committed to Premier, Sub District or VTCA Cricket on a Saturday afternoon, have a look at the neighboring NWCA Comp, it's Top Grades are mainly All-Indian sides, which makes sense as all the Population growth out that way is very heavily influenced by the Sub-Continent. Even Epping Football Club are struggling with Juniors.
 
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Just reading these posts and it highlights to me that cricket at a local level needs a drastic re think.

We (Research Eltham) had 25+ unavailable for 2 day sides because of a weddings and bucks turns that take players away for 1 week. There hasn’t been a game occurring without a similar issue since the season started.

I get the traditionalist out there who love their two day cricket but it’s becoming less viable for clubs to manage with the lack of commitment from participants on a regular basis.

I watch every game played at Research taking our Barclay side and C grade team over the year. The standard already is a large shadow of what it once was. Bowling is pedestrian at best, batting and scoring runs should be easy but players just have no application and ordinary technique, continually giving away their wickets.

I watched a 50+ year old Scott Gibbs bat yesterday and honestly it was like going back in time to watch a guy who hasn’t lost the knowledge of what’s required and whom I’m sure could still teach a few Shield attacks something if he was passionate enough and physically capable.

I have my views on what the future may look like but the facts are that the diehards who rock up every game to play are having to play higher levels than what they should or want for less enjoyment which will eventually probably put them off playing altogether.

The young kids who do play juniors often lose interest by the time they are 18-22 and most end up lost to the game for good.

Long term I see the solution being shield and shield reserves grades (reintroduced) play 2 dayers, every other grade 1 day cricket. I’d even go as far as reducing length of overs per innings from 80 down to 70 or 68 overs 2 day Shield games and 35 overs for all 1 dayers.

Stuff like blasters etc is great for junior participation but only a sugar hit if those same participants step away with hardly a senior game to their resume.

I’ve yet to see much substance from Cricket Victoria about doing anything worthwhile. They should diluted Premier Cricket years ago into a Senior, Reserve and elite under 18’s comp, getting rid of 3rds and 4ths who could then filter down to lower levels.

Subbies if it survives should just be like every other local comp, just with the turf point of difference.

Anyway they are my thoughts but if just sit on our hands and keep hoping the magic fairy dust will solve everything, more clubs are going to fall by the wayside or at best be half of what they used to be.
 
brutal said:
Just reading these posts and it highlights to me that cricket at a local level needs a drastic re think.

We (Research Eltham) had 25+ unavailable for 2 day sides because of a weddings and bucks turns that take players away for 1 week. There hasn’t been a game occurring without a similar issue since the season started.

I get the traditionalist out there who love their two day cricket but it’s becoming less viable for clubs to manage with the lack of commitment from participants on a regular basis.

I watch every game played at Research taking our Barclay side and C grade team over the year. The standard already is a large shadow of what it once was. Bowling is pedestrian at best, batting and scoring runs should be easy but players just have no application and ordinary technique, continually giving away their wickets.

I watched a 50+ year old Scott Gibbs bat yesterday and honestly it was like going back in time to watch a guy who hasn’t lost the knowledge of what’s required and whom I’m sure could still teach a few Shield attacks something if he was passionate enough and physically capable.

I have my views on what the future may look like but the facts are that the diehards who rock up every game to play are having to play higher levels than what they should or want for less enjoyment which will eventually probably put them off playing altogether.

The young kids who do play juniors often lose interest by the time they are 18-22 and most end up lost to the game for good.

Long term I see the solution being shield and shield reserves grades (reintroduced) play 2 dayers, every other grade 1 day cricket. I’d even go as far as reducing length of overs per innings from 80 down to 70 or 68 overs 2 day Shield games and 35 overs for all 1 dayers.

Stuff like blasters etc is great for junior participation but only a sugar hit if those same participants step away with hardly a senior game to their resume.

I’ve yet to see much substance from Cricket Victoria about doing anything worthwhile. They should diluted Premier Cricket years ago into a Senior, Reserve and elite under 18’s comp, getting rid of 3rds and 4ths who could then filter down to lower levels.

Subbies if it survives should just be like every other local comp, just with the turf point of difference.

Anyway they are my thoughts but if just sit on our hands and keep hoping the magic fairy dust will solve everything, more clubs are going to fall by the wayside or at best be half of what they used to be.
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Great summary.

Stil believe there is a place for 2 day cricket at lower levels.

Definitely need to introduce Shield and Shield Reserves. Can’t understand why the clubs voted against it.

Can’t have a scenario like yesterday where Hurstbridges 3’s making 420 against a 5th eleven. That is BS.

Need also to introduce in B Grade and below, the ability to play 12 players. Eleven to bat and Eleven to bowl.

There shouldn’t be good cricketers missing 2 weeks when they are only away for one week of a two week game. Maybe the 12th player is limited to x amount of runs or x amount of overs, so stopping that playing going down too many grades and making a mockery.
 
with Lower Eltham and now Epping not able to field a 2nd XI, Shield and Shield Reserves looks further away, maybe some Clubs can see the writing on the wall and that is why they voted against it
 
The new DVCA president may want his last 24 hours back. I’m sure the comp is happy that 3 lower grade games got a result… 2 involving Banyule in E and F grade. To top it off postponing the “Summer Smash” and we now have a sunny Sunday! Unbelievable
 
BatvBall said:
The new DVCA president may want his last 24 hours back. I’m sure the comp is happy that 3 lower grade games got a result… 2 involving Banyule in E and F grade. To top it off postponing the “Summer Smash” and we now have a sunny Sunday! Unbelievable
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Tough day in the field but in the lower grades we miss enough cricket, so play on. Both teams were keen. Ground was in excellent condition.
 
Maybe the DVCA should reimburse clubs the umpires fees just to turn-up and tell us it's too wet. No S@#t !
Looks like Hurstbridge vs Laurimar was the only shield game to get a start
 
Amazing effort by all the girls who stepped up and helped out their clubs today.

Tough day for the Epping girls, but courage personified.

Amazing effort by Rebecca Hayes who made 60 today.

How would Meg Lanning go in Barclay?
 
Underarm28 said:
Amazing effort by all the girls who stepped up and helped out their clubs today.

Tough day for the Epping girls, but courage personified.

Amazing effort by Rebecca Hayes who made 60 today.

How would Meg Lanning go in Barclay?
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Expect to see more and more clubs lower grades infiltrated with ring ins each week, male or female.

Grass roots cricket is not what it was. Australian society, demographic and social expectations have all changed. The people in charge from Todd Greenberg all the way down to Johnny Smith coaching the under 10s have got some real issues moving forward.
 
shortnsharp said:
Lots of games in the balance. Should be a good weekend of cricket coming up
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I think only Diamond Creek v Rosanna & North Eltham v Heidelberg are the only matches in the balance. Can either DC or Heidelberg chase their targets?

The rest look like they are wrapped up.
Maybe Macleod could have a collapse but would be very surprised to see that happening.
 
The Long Room said:
I think only Diamond Creek v Rosanna & North Eltham v Heidelberg are the only matches in the balance. Can either DC or Heidelberg chase their targets?

The rest look like they are wrapped up.
Maybe Macleod could have a collapse but would be very surprised to see that happening.
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Wouldn't be writing off riverside. They could lose by 9 wickets, or win by a runs margin, depending on which Epping decides to turn up
 
The Long Room said:
I think only Diamond Creek v Rosanna & North Eltham v Heidelberg are the only matches in the balance. Can either DC or Heidelberg chase their targets?

The rest look like they are wrapped up.
Maybe Macleod could have a collapse but would be very surprised to see that happening.
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Great chase it looks like by the Bergs. All bats contributed
 
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