Information on Team Structure and Management

The Club will be implementing a more structured approach to the management of the teams. We want parents and coaches to be part of and to buy into the new structure as we believe that this it will have more positive than negative aspects in developing our junior cricket players.

The main feature of the new system is that Super League teams will be managed the same way as our senior teams are managed, i.e. the focus will be on specialist positions rather than on giving everyone an opportunity in each match. Each Super League team will thus consist of three batsmen; four all-rounders; a wicketkeeper and four bowlers (thus 12 players). Batsmen will bat; bowlers will bowl and all-rounders will not open the batting or the bowling and they will be rotated as all-rounders in batting positions 4 to 7 as well as getting an opportunity to bowl (remember, at least 5 bowlers must bowl in a match). The three specialist batsman will not bowl and lower order batsman will only get a chance to bat if the batting line-up collapses. This will be done 90% of the time. This will ensure participation every Saturday of at least nine players, bowling; batting or keeping wicket. The twelve man will be rotated and will be someone else every Saturday.

(Please remember, the definition of a true all-rounder is not somebody who can bowl and bat a bit, it means that the player is good enough to make the team as either a batsman or a bowler (think Kallis or Pollock)

The same system will be implemented to some extent in the “A”-teams, depending on how strong the team is.

"B"-teams will be handled much the same as in the past on the basis of everyone getting a fair chance to do everything during the season. The coach will be responsible to see that this happen, and can be asked by the committee to produce proof thereof

Players (and parents) can indicate what role they want to play in the team (batsmen, all-rounder, bowler or wicketkeeper;) but the selectors will pick a side consisting of twelve players per side which won't be necessary the best twelve players but the twelve players that best fit into the positions as indicated above. As an example, if your child is rated as say the 5th best batsman in his age group but is not a top class bowler, he is likely to be chosen as a specialist batsman in the “A”-team rather than being selected for the S/L team. Should a parent feel that he would rather have his child play in one of the lower teams in order for him to get more opportunity to participate in more than one discipline; they are welcome to indicate this to the committee.

Coaches are expected to support this structure and are responsible for implementing it and can be asked by the committee to produce their scorebook so that a check can be done on the implementation of the system.

Any complaint can be directed to the committee on an official complaint form and will be attended to by the committee only.

Please note that only certain balls will be allowed at practise. The Easterns Cricket Union has approved the following balls: BevCric, Callas, Red Devil, Kookaburra Practise, Duncan Fearnley and Platypus (an updated list will be published as soon as available).The the Union has specifically banned the following balls: Bass, Swinger, Match and Vampire. No unapproved balls will be allowed.  Approved cricket balls may be purchased from the club.