More room to grow

Cricket’s rise is just beginning

CRICKET Tasmania chief executive Dominic Baker believes the turnaround in participation rates in the past 12 months is just the beginning for the growth in the sport.

The release of the Australian Cricket Census data earlier this week showed a participation increase of more than 10 per cent in Tasmania — snapping a threeyear decline of people taking up the game.

Baker is confident the sport has the potential to improve this summer on the back of the coronavirus pandemic, which has shut down a host of winter sports.

“We are expecting to have a bumper season really, and it will only be capped by our ability to deliver programs,” Baker said. “Obviously in a COVID-19 world we are looking at how to best deliver as many programs as possible.

“Realistically, it is also about ground availability. Grounds aren’t growing on trees at the moment, one ground with a synthetic wicket can cope with 16 teams.

“The more open spaces we get lined up for cricket, the more the game will grow.”

The 10.5 per cent increase in registered participation represented a total of 20,690 players, while female participation again led the way with 3592 new players (constituting a 16 per cent increase).

Overall club cricket participation grew in Tasmania, with junior leagues increasing by 13 per cent (5592) and senior leagues growing by 4.6 per cent (8373).

Eastern Shore CTPL club Clarence was one club that saw a spike in junior numbers, with the Roos’ Cricket Blast participation increasing from 93 to 110 while the club also fielded an additional under-13 and under-15 team last summer.

“We have some pretty bold expectations for the future,” president Scott Wade said.

“We are really keen to get stuck into being the best club in the state as far as development is concerned.

“I think our club has had a good history of producing high quality players, but we are really keen to make sure we are bursting at the seams with numbers.”