Grampians’ big hit

Association president Dave Turner wants to expand the schedule following successful 50-over and Twenty-20 games against the Horsham Cricket Association during the 2016-17 season.

The Horsham side defeated the Grampians by two wickets in an one-off representative game on Friday night.

Turner said players were reluctant to commit to country week, but scheduling representative games against other teams would allow the association’s top players to take the field.

“Because neither side is going to country week, we feel there is a gap in scheduling for more rep games,” he said.

“We plan to have a few more over the next couple of years, and maybe even involve another association for a tri-competition series.”

Turner said he would investigate if the Wimmera-Mallee Cricket Association was interested in joining a new schedule.

The potential representative fixtures were just one aspect of the Twenty-20 games the Grampians association will consider tweaking.

The association will consider moving the games to Sundays, to allow for more players to be available, while night cricket will also be put on hold.

Lights at Stawell’s Central Park and Ararat’s Alexandra Oval were not strong enough for night cricket.

Turner said the Grampians association would also consider making it easier for former players to return to their clubs in one-off appearances during the regular Twenty-20 fixture between clubs.

“There were some players who back to play and were not registered,” he said.

“Which we didn’t have an issue with, but we just need to make sure each club has the opportunity to pursue that.”