GCA - Grampians Cricket Association was forced to abandon Saturday's scheduled play due to the extreme heat and the threatening nature of bushfires across the region.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The cancellation of the weekend's cricket came when fires broke out in both the Grampians and Black Ranges and could not be contained.
Several townships and their sporting ovals were in the firing line, making it difficult to come to any decision other than to cancel the cricket.
"Being a country association with country people, it would have made it impossible," GCA president Anthony Martin said.
"People would have been on and off the fire tracks.
"Clubs just wouldn't have been able to get teams together."
Friday night saw Grampians Cricket Association clubs notified of the cancellation of the weekend's matches, which included Saturday's regular games and Sunday's one day semi finals.
The round would surely have provided plenty of interest with the clash between Buangor and Aradale and Pomonal taking on Tatyoon.
Saturday's match between Buangor and Aradale would have seen one of the two teams take a stranglehold on third spot on the ladder, while the other will just have to settle for fourth.
The top four spots should have been locked in with Tatyoon and Swifts/Great Western having already secured their finals positions at the top of the ladder and Pomonal and Youth Club not in the hunt at the bottom.
The association chose to get the message out early Friday rather than waiting until Saturday morning, allowing the cricketers to make alternative plans for the weekend.
"It was important for the cricket association to notify players early to give them the time to continue holidays or to plan not to come home to play," Mr Martin said.
The bushfires and extreme temperatures could not have come at a worse time for the Grampians Cricket Association, following the debacle surrounding forfeits the previous weekend.
"This year has been pretty hectic," Mr Martin said.
"I hope we can finish the year off strongly now.
"I cannot remember the last time this happened, but I hope it doesn't happen again any time soon."
Grampians Cricket Association will return this weekend with discussion set to take place as to what format Saturday's play will take and what happens with regards to the cancelled one day matches.
Mr Martin said he assumed this weekend's matches will simply be played as one day fixtures, making up for the loss of Saturday.
Mr Martin said the focus of the executive would be to finish off what has been an interesting season, with no more disruptions.
"When there is rain, cricket gets cancelled, but that doesn't happen all that often around here," Mr Martin said.