NEW BEGINNING
CRICKET: A game-changing revolution is set to alter the landscape of cricket across the Darling Downs like never before.
Toowoomba is set to launch a new Twenty20 competition that will kick-start the cricket season in September, and provide a much-needed boost to the sport.
In a style similar to that of the Indian Premier League, six privately owned franchises will take part in the competition, with the composition of teams to be determined by way of draft.
The competition is yet to be named, however early indications suggest it will be known as the DDBBL.
Such is the anticipation to be involved in the new concept, five of the six franchises have been snapped up by keen businesses, as the community gets behind the fresh concept.
“The T20 comp, while it was fair and reasonable, wasn’t generating a lot of excitement like T20 should,” competition co-ordinator Kent Reimers said.
“Instead of the same old, one of our ideas was to go out and sell the teams to local businesses. Those teams will then go to a draft, and the players will then be picked up by the draft.
“The owners are cricket people, but they wanted to be a part of something ground breaking and something fun. They get to be dynamically involved in the selection of their team as well.
“The feedback I have received is that while it is good exposure for their businesses, the owners are giving back to the game and that’s the important thing in the end.”
One of the key features that sets the competition apart is the staging of a player draft, where team owners will be on the clock to assemble the best squad available. Reimers said the draft system would ensure the best talent in the region was spread across the six franchises, paving the way for top-line cricket.
“The draft is to create excitement and to keep it level. Because we want to keep costs sort of fixed and not to blow out to make it unaffordable for teams, if it went to an auction, it could go silly,” he
said.
“They go to the draft, they have a number of allocated points and have to fit 13 players underneath the points system.
“Even if it was just privatised, there could still be that problem with really strong and weak teams, whereas we hope this provides a level playing field.
“You never know until nominations start rolling in, but the feedback we’ve been getting from players is that they are excited about it.
“Hopefully that translates into 70-plus nominations.”
In addition to the player points system, franchises will have the opportunity to welcome young talent and players from outside of the region into the fold.
“Not only is it Toowoombabased, but we’ve approached Ipswich and Valley people. In the draft there will be an option for one free U18 player and one free western, non-TCI registered player,” he said.
“Gatton will be a part of it because they are in the TCI T20 competition, so it will be the likes of Warwick, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi, Roma, Dalby and Chinchilla.”
Six captains have already been chosen to lead the franchises forward, namely Chris Hall, Cameron Brimblecombe, Kris Glass, Shaun McCarthy, Troy Gurski and Alex Welsh.
Reimers said while the concept had been planned for a while, the time was right to
THE T20 COMP, WHILE IT WAS FAIR AND REASONABLE, WASN’T GENERATING A LOT OF EXCITEMENT LIKE T20 SHOULD. INSTEAD OF THE SAME OLD, ONE OF OUR IDEAS WAS TO GO OUT AND SELL THE TEAMS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES.
KENT REIMERS
bring the revolution to Toowoomba.
“Tony Anderson from Highfields-Railways and I were talking about how to rejuvenate Toowoomba cricket a few months ago,” he said.
“I told him about this idea, and he said we need to do something about this.
“We mapped out some details, took it to a TCI meeting and all the clubs unanimously voted to put the idea through.
“The whole point (of selecting the six captains) is we want people playing under some of the best cricket minds around.”
A number of grounds are in mind for the five-week competition, with organisers hoping to land a huge coup.
“Captain Cook Reserve will be used, we’ll use something whether it’s Cahill Park or somewhere else in the Lockyer Valley and Heritage Oval will be used,” Reimers said.
“We’re hoping that Highfields Sports Park will have the new pitch up and running by then, because we’d love to play some games out there. It is an amazing facility.”
One of the six captains is Cavaliers and Bulls Masters skipper Glass, who said he was honoured to be asked to lead a team in the DDBBL.
“It’s a privilege to be selected as one of the first captains of this competition,” Glass said.
“This is something that I’m proud of, and hopefully I can pass on a few things to those younger than me in the team.
“Hopefully it can stay around for quite a while and improve the general outlook of cricket on the Downs.
“It’s something that is a bit overdue. T20 cricket in the region has grown a bit stale, and hasn’t been committed to as much by the players.
“On a national and international scene it is quite popular with the IPL and Big Bash League. This is something both good and different, and I hope it not only improves the people that play, but those that follow and juniors as well.”
Glass backed the efforts of organisers in establishing the competition, giving cricket its showpiece event to launch the new season.
“I think our competition is a good one already, but it’s always looking to try and improve,” he said.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to not only get more people involved, but getting more businesses in the region involved, a bit more media coverage as well as getting people interested in club cricket again in Toowoomba.
“If you look at rugby league, they have their All Stars game. If cricket can have that same sort of concept it is great. You won’t only see the best of Toowoomba and the Lockyer, but if there are some players from Ipswich and a player or two from Brisbane, it will only benefit those playing.”