DOUBLE DELIGHT

Cap breach solution

GEELONG Cricket Association clubs want each team’s player points allocations widely published in a bid to avoid a repeat of the drawn-out Torquay saga.

The Tigers were late last week issued a letter from the GCA outlining a “resolution” for allegedly exceeding the player points cap in a series of matches before Christmas.

Torquay was given seven days to respond to the GCA’s letter, a deadline that expires on Friday.

Rival division two clubs met independently on Monday night and later wrote to GCA president Barry McFarlane asking for an update on the Torquay situation.

The GCA, bound by confidentiality, responded by saying it could not yet comment.

GCA2 clubs urged the association to examine every Torquay first XI game this season and issue sanctions in line with the rules and regulations handbook if it is proven the club breached the cap.

They have also urged the association to make accessible the points allocations of players at every club before the start of the season to allow for public scrutiny.

They also asked the association to make all player points this season available and circulated immediately.

The GCA agrees with the need for the player points data to be public, and says it will work with Cricket Victoria to have the information widely accessible on MyCricket.

The association wants the process improved, but has said all information is currently available if clubs request it.

The drawn-out points saga has hung over the GCA since early December.

Anomalies with some of Torquay’s points allocations first came to light in the leadup to Round 7 when the Tigers were 5-1, prompting an investigation and a subsequent adjustment of some players’ points allocations.

The Tigers have argued that the GCA should also accept some responsibility for any breach, given it initially approved the allocations.

GCA officials remain tightlipped about potential sanctions and clubs are awaiting an update.

One potential outcome reported in the Geelong Advertiser last week suggested that any game Torquay won while exceeding the cap could become a draw. The exact number of games the Tigers are said to have breached the cap is not yet confirmed.

With Torquay third on the ladder, and with Marshall (fifth) and St Peter’s (sixth) both capable of leaping into the top four, the outcome will shape the finals race. THE player points system is one equalisation measure in place across the three first XI competitions in the GCA.

There is also a salary cap where clubs are limited to a $10,000 spend across three professional players.

Every player has a points grading, and teams are required to field a first XI team within the cap each game — 40 points in GCA1, 42 in GCA2 and 45 in GCA3.

The highest rating for a player is 10 points (first-class and overseas contracted players), down to the lowest grade of two (long-time, one-club and junior players).

Clubs are required to submit the value of their players by September 3 for the GCA to review and tick off. Additional players need to be submitted to the GCA by the Wednesday before their first game.

For every season a player stays at their club, their points allocation drops by one to a minimum of two points.

The system aims to promote retention of players, loyalty and junior development, while ensuring clubs do not stockpile top-end talent.

A detailed table is available in the GCA’s rules and regulations handbook.