Backyard rule law in junior game

GOLDEN ducks have been dismissed in junior cricket — a change 40 years too late to save this reporter’s average.

Junior cricket begins this weekend, and it is a very different game from what it was even five years ago.

The Dunedin Cricket Association has been an early adopter of many of the changes New Zealand cricket is introducing to junior cricket this summer, including cutting down the playing numbers per side and reducing the length of boundaries — nothing worse than hitting the ball from the middle of the bat only to be robbed of a boundary by the wet grass.

But this season noone will be able to get out in the first six balls, and batsmen will have to be retired after 30 runs.

Batsmen will be able to come back and bat again, so there is still room for the next KaneWilliamsons and Suzie Bates of the world. But the change is being introduced to give more players a greater opportunity out in the middle.

With so many different attractions on offer for young people these days, the sport has been struggling to hold and attract the attention of schoolaged players.

It is hoped the changes will make the sport more inclusive and appeal to a wider group.

‘‘To be honest, Dunedin cricket was already a good way down the track,’’ Otago Cricket Association development officer Will Deerness said.

The organisation reduced the players numbers per side ‘‘probably four or five years ago.

‘‘The other changes are around pitch length, so the games better caters to the size of the participants.’’

Dunedin cricket ‘‘was ahead of the curve again, but not to the extent New Zealand Cricket want’’.

Juniors were playing on 18m pitches, but this summer intermediateaged children will play on an 18m pitch, while younger children will play on shorter 16m pitches and ‘‘even down to 10m for the kids who are new to cricket’’.

Boundary sizes were also cut back years ago, but what is new is the length of an innings.

‘‘There are rules for different grades, but at intermediate level you can’t be out in the first six balls,’’ Deerness said.

‘‘That is just to ensure everybody gets an opportunity. In the grades below that they just bat in pairs for a certain amount of overs each.

‘‘It is new for us and it will take the game [to] a slightly different place . . .

‘‘We are trying to cater for new people, but it is also about skill development as well.’’

Deerness said junior player numbers have held steady this season, at about 70 teams.

❛ We are trying to cater for new people, but it is also about skill

development as well