Division decision finally arrives

THE drawn-out fate of the Geelong Cricket Association’s hard-wicket clubs will be decided at a league executive meeting tomorrow night.

The league will finally decide which divisions traditional country clubs Bannockburn, Teesdale, Lethbridge and Meredith will play in this coming season.

Those clubs were left in local cricket’s wilderness last season after falling victim to a turf-based GCA restructure that shunted hard-wicket clubs to divisions below their standard. But any decision will only be a “bandaid” solution for one season before a complete region-wide G21 review of senior cricket is undertaken, involving both the GCA and the BPCA.

GCA president Barry McFarlane hopes to inform clubs on Thursday where they will be playing in 2018-19.

McFarlane remained tightlipped on which divisions the hard-wicket clubs could end up playing this season.

“We have to fit these clubs into our structures so that they’re playing in competitions that provide them with a good competition, rather than what they had to put up with in the last 12 months,” GCA president Barry McFarlane said.

“That’s the underlining thing for getting through this season, that those clubs are provided with the standard of cricket that befits their ability.

“It is our responsibility to ensure they get competitive cricket, and that’s all we have to do for 12 months before we get it all sorted out with a broader Geelong outlook on cricket.”

One option clubs were recently given to consider was allowing Bannockburn and Teesdale to join the Division 3 turf competition.

But that would force turf clubs to play the occasional first XI game on hard-wicket.