As the winter codes wrap up attention is starting to swing towards the summer and the fixture of the 2022/23 Hoggies Wines Barber Shield is out.
The Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association has finalised the fixture with all six teams going around again with everyone trying to stop Penola from securing another triumph.
The 2022/23 summer of cricket begins exactly in a month’s time with the first ball being bowled on Saturday, October 15.
It will mark the start of one of the biggest seasons in recent memory with 11 rounds of action set to take place.
The extra game of cricket will be another invaluable chance for players to challenge themselves against the red ball in the two-day arena ahead of finals.
Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association vice president Shane Dycer said the extra round has been in put in place simply to keep the structure of the season from October to the March long weekend intact.
“It is just how it fell this year with the dates where the long weekends did not interfere the cricket like it has in previous years,” he said.
“So we like finishing it on the March long weekend to make sure we get a result and do not want to start in November.
“So we decided to add two more weeks of cricket is more cricket for everyone and I am sure no one is going to complain.”
Dycer revealed not only will A Grade cricket commence, but all of the other grades will start on the same weekend to ensure a huge start to the season.
Although an 11-round season does mean the A Grade draw will be slightly uneven with one set of fixtures occurring an extra time, Dycer said the extra round will make life easier in the other grades like Under 12’s where there are 12 teams.
“If you look at it holistically the other grades have a various number of teams so the A Grade draw of 10 rounds may be perfect, but it is not actually perfect for the other grades, so it is a real mishmash.
“So if anything it could make it a little easier and more cricket is good.”
Although only the Barber Shield draw has been released, Dycer was pleased to reveal numbers will at least be as strong and if not stronger than before as clubs start to hit the nets with spring in the air.
“Nominations have not closed yet, but I think we have not lost any teams which is the first tick,” he said.
“It is only early days, but from all reports there will potentially be more junior and C Grade teams and a holding pattern for B and A Grade which is fantastic.
“Our Under 12 program is brilliant and we now need to flow that into Under 14’s and 17’s and build that which is our aim.
“Everyone will start the same weekend and the women’s fixture which is separate to us will be released soon as well.”
