THE Swan Hill District Cricket Association could welcome new clubs to their senior ranks next season.
Gannawarra-based Northern District Cricket Association recently held a meeting to talk possible scenarios for their future.
It followed several of the league’s best players expressing their desire to play at a higher standard.
Multiple arguments were presented at the meeting, with Kerang Cricket Club an outlier in wishing to keep the status quo.
A Murray Raiders senior team, of the best 11 combined from the league’s four clubs, seemed like the most logical choice to field a team capable of competing in the SHDCA A Grade.
This option was voted against by Murrabit Cricket Club, who after a few strong years wished to keep their own identity.
MCC declined to comment at this stage, but there was a strong possibility the club could go their own way and join the SHDCA themselves.
NDCA president Tim Coote told The Guardian the league would still look to advance the Murray Raiders side with the three remaining clubs.
“We would like to see a combined team from the NDCA go up to the SHDCA,” Coote said.
“That would create a good pathway for our juniors with the Murray Raiders already in existence.”
However, this was up in the air because the Koondrook and Barham cricket clubs, who have played separately the past few years, were confident they could combine to field A Grade, and a B or C grade, in another competition.
Kerang Cricket Club president Bob Sutterby said while the club might be capable of fielding a B Grade in the SHDCA next season, the long-term viability of the club was in rival clubs’ hands.
“Whatever happens, we don’t have an identity if the NDCA splits or folds,” he said.
“There isn’t much incentive for the other clubs to join with us when they can just absorb us.”
SHDCA president Greg Cruickshank said the league was excited about the possibility of new clubs.
“From an SHDCA perspective, we’d welcome the inclusion of all teams from the NDCA,” he said.
“We saw the junior Murray Raiders this year play in the grand finals of both under 16s and 13s, which shows teams from the region would add great strength to our competition.”
