The 2022/23 Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association season has been delayed by a week due to inclement weather, which has hampered pitch preparations across the reg.
Initially scheduled to start this weekend, players will now gear up with the season set to start on October 21.
Association vice president Shane Dycer said some grounds were not up to standard, with some clubs still uncovering pitches from football season.
“Because of the long, sustained wet weather we have had, we found that some of the turf wickets were behind (schedule),” he said.
“Even some of the ovals around the league that people were doing work on after football season have not come around quick enough to get us on there under good conditions.
“We made the decision to give ourselves the extra week and with last week’s good weather it has really pushed things along.”
Dycer said clubs were on target to have turf wickets ready for the newly scheduled first round.
“Other clubs were doing some remedial works on their ground now and they are in a better place now since we made the call,” he said.
“With the latest rain band we have had here in Mount Gambier over the past week or so it will place the grounds under consideration.
“It is not ideal with the rain, but this time of the year a bit of rain is fine and this time three weeks ago they were at saturation point.
“It just got to the point where we could not get on and roll and start doing preparation of filling and topping.
“The grounds’ crew are right on to it now and are pretty confident there is some nice weather around the corner so we can get some decent rolling into the pitches late next week and the week after and they will be ready to go.”
Dycer said the association would keep a close eye on the weather in the lead-up to the start of the season for the grades that play on the turf wickets.
“We will cross that bridge when it comes and if it does happen,” Dycer said.
“Juniors and lower grade cricket will not be affected as they are on hard wicket, so at the end of the day we can shuffle grounds if we must.
“The turf is a bit different with the seniors, but if we had to move around, we have 11 rounds not 10, so if we cannot get on first round it will not affect the draw.
“It means we still play, everyone will play in a one and two-day fixture.
“Also, we have the extra week up our sleeves with hard wickets being spare because of the C Grade draw with seven teams, we pushed it to start a week after with 10 rounds.
“So, we will have some spare hard wickets if required for round one.”
Dycer said the association was looking for sponsorship and naming rights for juniors and a shirt sponsor for umpires, while also being on the hunt for retired cricketers who still want to be involved in the sport through umpiring.
“We are trying to bolster our numbers and at the moment all the A Grade numbers are covered, but we would like to up the numbers in the other grades,” he said.
“At the moment we trying to get people to come out and give it a try.
“We are just thinking there might be some guys or girls who might think they would like to do a bit of umpiring.”
