By Michael Roberts | posted on October 11, 2020
FIVE teams will battle it out for premiership glory in the Great Southern’s top cricket competition this season, with Denmark officially dropping out of the 2020/21 Albany Districts Cricket Association (ADCA) A-grade competition.
The ADCA will field two A-grade games per week in a 20-round fixture, with teams taking a bye every five games.
ADCA President Terry Eaton said it was disappointing there wouldn’t be a sixth team, but that Denmark just didn’t have the top-end talent to field a competitive team.
Finishing last year rooted to the bottom of the ladder, Denmark were unable to secure a single win in 2019/20.
At the other end of the stick, Railways were crowned ADCA A-grade champions for the seventh successive season in what must be one of the most dominant runs of any team in WA cricketing history.
The Tigers clinched the premiership in bizarre circumstances after the ADCA was forced to suspend all its grand final play-offs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
ADCA’s executive committee unanimously decided each side that made it to the grand final first would win the flag.
With the pandemic still looming large over the world, the Western Australian Cricket Association released return to play protocols last month.
Under the protocols, players are not permitted to shine the cricket ball with saliva or sweat and any time during matches and training.
The guidelines also advise players not to share cricket equipment wherever possible and to avoid high fives and hugs after a wicket is taken.
Despite the precautions, Mr Eaton said local clubs were reporting strong numbers at pre-season training.
Apart from having to cancel last year’s grand finals fixtures, Mr Eaton said the Association was in a good position to cope with the challenges of COVID-19.
“It’s pretty well been business as usual, the clubs are reporting a good start,” he said.
“It’s looking very positive. We are ready to rock and roll.”
After a well-received first instalment, the region’s Southern Smash T20 tournament will return in December under an expanded competition.
Two extra franchises are joining this year to take part in a two-day tournament which will be played on December 28 and December 29 during the summer holidays.
Mr Eaton said some big-name Perth players would be announced in the lead up to a draft night in November.
All-rounder Julian Crudeli was last year’s No.1 selection, followed by marquee signings Luke Jury, Zain Ul Hassan and Dan Abel.
