Junior cricket going Aussie

Junior cricket in Counties Manukau is in for a shake up.

And if the Australian experience is anything to go by there will be more hits, more runs, more boundaries, less dot balls and less time for parents to pop away for grocery shopping with games being of shorter duration.

The innovations affect year five to eight teams only and will include shorter boundaries, shorter pitchs, fewer fielders, overs bowled in blocks from one end and batters can no longer be dismissed until they’ve faced six deliveries.

Clubs are aware of the changes and they’re expected to get a better grip of how the game will be played at an exhibition game involving 36 children at Bledisloe Park, Pukekohe on October 25.

Counties Manukau Cricket Association chief executive Trevor Gill says the changes are more than a facelift.

‘‘It’s a new coordinated approach to keep kids in cricket by having a better experience and improving their skill development. The changes will also be quickly embedded into age-group representative cricket.

‘‘We consulted with our clubs and coaches and they gave the idea their full and enthusiastic support.’’

The innovations follow a national review of strategy and structure by New Zealand Cricket, which is a pilot programme borrowed from Cricket Australia, that has seen positive results.