Intrigue over new club T20 cricket competition
Senior A cricketers have the opportunity to test themselves against fringe Canterbury representatives in a revised Twenty20 competition, beginning on Saturday.
Christchurch Metro Cricket have launched a fresh three-tiered T20 tournament, which will culminate with finals on February 6 [Waitangi Day].
It features the eight premier sides, as well as four senior A teams, Sumner, Halswell, Heathcote and Merivale Papanui.
The top section is named after former Canterbury and New Zealand quick and punishing lower order batsman Dick Motz. Motz, who died in 2007, played 32 tests for New Zealand between 1961-69.
Section two, the Nathan Astle series, includes senior A, 2A and two school teams, while section three, the Barry Hadlee series, is a mixture of 2A, 2B and 2C teams.
Christchurch Metro Cricket general manager Mike Harvey said T20 was the perfect chance to open up the grades and pit different teams against each other.
He was confident the four senior A sides in the top division could push the stronger premier teams.
‘‘Twenty20 is a short format of the game, so if it is lop-sided, you’re not standing out there all day in the field getting smashed.
‘‘The senior A sides should compete reasonably well. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was the odd upset and they could actually beat some of the premier teams.’’
Harvey said feedback from the clubs had largely been positive about the new competition.
It gave players the opportunity to challenge themselves against opponents in a higher division and measure themselves against different batsmen and bowlers.
Many senior A cricketers had experience at premier level and would not find the jump too difficult, Harvey said. ‘‘With any sort of change, there’s one or two people maybe a bit sceptical. ‘‘[Senior A sides] are really looking forward to it.’’
The Dick Motz series, which will be played over five rounds, opens with a double-header round on Saturday [12noon and 3.30pm start times]. The top two teams from each pool advance to the semi-finals, which will be played on February 2.
Pool A will be held at Burwood Park on Saturday and Pool B at Burnside Park. Harvey said trophies would be created to honour the three respective winners.
The inaugural T20 competition would be reviewed at the end of the summer and Harvey hoped it could become an annual spectacle.