Grade Pre-Season Discussion.

[David]

Whilst discussing with Håkon, we thought that perhaps centrally contracted players shouldn't play grade. Thoughts?

Anybody with any suggestions feel free to fire away here.

 

[Perm]

I don't suppose it's a bad idea that the centrally contracted players are inelegible for Grade cricket, no doubt they will have a different view though. Any ideas on when the season is going to get underway?

 

[age_master]

I have no ibjection to centrally contracted players playing grade cricket. Though during the season it perhaps might not be the most realistic senario, their time would more likely be spent in training camps related to international games. That would only be the cont\racted players in the squad though.

 

[chaminda_00]

The issue is that some central contracted players aren't always first choice picks for their clubs in both forms. By not letting them play Grade cricket it reduces their chances to push for selection in their weaker form if they get dropped from their Dev League sides. With Grade Cricket now counting to stats then an extra three point increase in batting could help them push for a spot in the first XI.

 

[Robertinho]

I don't see why they shouldn't be allowed to play Grade Cricket. Any reason why it's been suggested, Dave?

 

[Goughy]

I am a centrally contracted player but I am not an automatic selection for Black FC.

Now my aim is to try and become as good a FC players as I am OD. It is possible (though from my POV not desirable) that my main 4 day cricket will be in Grade cricket.

Without Grade cricket and its new ability to influence stats I (Im not sure if there are others in a similar boat) would be heavily disadvantaged through playing very little 4 day cricket.

If there was OD games in Grade I wouldnt have a problem with being left out of that but not 4 day

 

[Perm]

I have no ibjection to centrally contracted players playing grade cricket. Though during the season it perhaps might not be the most realistic senario, their time would more likely be spent in training camps related to international games. That would only be the cont\racted players in the squad though.

You've got a very good point, I mean how many of Australia's centrally contracted players actuall play Grade Cricket? It is very uncommon, although I think a complete 'ban' on centrally contracted players playing Grade Cricket is a bit harsh, because it limits their opportunities to push for selection in their weaker form of the game.

 

[Robertinho]

The reason why centrally contracted Australians don't play Grade Cricket often is due to availability. The circumstances under which a centrally contracted CWer would play Grade Cricket would be - 1) not playing for the CW XI and 2) not playing for their Dev League club. Australian players who are centrally contracted are the same. Shane Warne used to play for St Kilda, when he was available (which, granted, wasn't very often).

 

[James90]

The reason why centrally contracted Australians don't play Grade Cricket often is due to availability. The circumstances under which a centrally contracted CWer would play Grade Cricket would be - 1) not playing for the CW XI and 2) not playing for their Dev League club. Australian players who are centrally contracted are the same. Shane Warne used to play for St Kilda, when he was available (which, granted, wasn't very often).

Last couple of years there has been the "long live club cricket" weekend where the test stars turn out in the grade comp. Other than that they're generally in training however contracted players such as Hodge and Jaques generally get a few grade matches each year due to them often not being on international duty.

I don't understand why contracted players shouldn't be allowed to play grade. Doesn't make much sense tbh.

 

[ash chaulk]

yeah langer played his grade before he retired still does too

 

[Robertinho]

Yeah, it seems like it's just been suggested for the sake of it, an unnecessary addition to the sim if there ever was one.

 

[AussieDominance]

Last couple of years there has been the "long live club cricket" weekend where the test stars turn out in the grade comp. Other than that they're generally in training however contracted players such as Hodge and Jaques generally get a few grade matches each year due to them often not being on international duty.

I don't understand why contracted players shouldn't be allowed to play grade. Doesn't make much sense tbh.

I don't think we are going to have a situation where Jaques get's 321 like he did against my brother's team(North Sydney) .

 

[David]

I have no objection to centrally contracted players playing grade cricket. Though during the season it perhaps might not be the most realistic scenario, their time would more likely be spent in training camps related to international games. That would only be the contracted players in the squad though.

I figured the same, as I wasn't sure exactly how much Grade cricket was played by our international players. I figured realistically they wouldn't, however wanted to find out if this was actually the case.

The issue is that some central contracted players aren't always first choice picks for their clubs in both forms. By not letting them play Grade cricket it reduces their chances to push for selection in their weaker form if they get dropped from their Dev League sides. With Grade Cricket now counting to stats then an extra three point increase in batting could help them push for a spot in the first XI.

That also needs to be taken into consideration. Bear in mind both Håkon and myself are centrally contracted, and neither of us are first choice picks for OD.

I don't see why they shouldn't be allowed to play Grade Cricket. Any reason why it's been suggested, Dave?

Realism. Although it seems not to be the case.

I am a centrally contracted player but I am not an automatic selection for Black FC.

Now my aim is to try and become as good a FC players as I am OD. It is possible (though from my POV not desirable) that my main 4 day cricket will be in Grade cricket.

Without Grade cricket and its new ability to influence stats I (Im not sure if there are others in a similar boat) would be heavily disadvantaged through playing very little 4 day cricket.

If there was OD games in Grade I wouldnt have a problem with being left out of that but not 4 day

As above, I am in the same boat except OD wilderness not 4D.

The reason why centrally contracted Australians don't play Grade Cricket often is due to availability. The circumstances under which a centrally contracted CWer would play Grade Cricket would be - 1) not playing for the CW XI and 2) not playing for their Dev League club. Australian players who are centrally contracted are the same. Shane Warne used to play for St Kilda, when he was available (which, granted, wasn't very often).

Thank you.

Last couple of years there has been the "long live club cricket" weekend where the test stars turn out in the grade comp. Other than that they're generally in training however contracted players such as Hodge and Jaques generally get a few grade matches each year due to them often not being on international duty.

I don't understand why contracted players shouldn't be allowed to play grade. Doesn't make much sense tbh.

Thank you.

yeah langer played his grade before he retired still does too

Thank you.

Yeah, it seems like it's just been suggested for the sake of it, an unnecessary addition to the sim if there ever was one.

No need to be like that.

Bottom line was I figured it'd be more realistic, however clearly it isn't. Thank you all for your comments.

 

[AussieDominance]

Ahhhhh the wonders of Multi-Quote.

 

[bugssy]

brad haddin and braken play for there grades (east) when they can. i know bevan and mcgrath and a few of them used to play for the respected grade clubs when there where available, which was usually at the start of a season.

 

[bugssy]

any news when grade will start! just asking guys!

 

[luffy]

My team to win TBH

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Hm.

David has been absent for 10 days, so I think I'd better step in and ensure the grade season is actually happening this year.

With the amount of players, it appears to be physically impossible to complete the season with 10 teams (or at least without massive ITC trickery), so I've introduced teams from Maddington and Fitzworthingham to make a 12-team league. That should make for a 44-round season, one home and one away match in each format. To prevent that FC specialists only play OD cricket for their grade team, the schedule will be such that when the Dev League has two days of FC cricket, the grade league will have one day of 3D and one day of OD (It'll make more sense when I make that schedule, trust me.)

Preliminary squads:

Campsfield Braves (8): Alex Blackman (Black), Liam Camps (Blue), Adam Collins (Blue), Ryan Dunn (Blue), Gareth Gooljar (Blue), Daniel Smith (Black), Mike Wilson (Colts), Darren Dubb-Lynch (Green)

Davistow Darters (8): David Kearsley (Red), David Kennett (Red), Zac Ritchie (Red), Nath Patrick (Black), Dave Watt (Red). Signings: Mark Hopgood (Colts), S Raghav (Red), Ben Read (Green)

Edfield Seahawks (8): Pooja Bharat (Colts), Nick Borcich (Black), Kingsley Clapham (Red), Håkon Mørk (Red), Gaurav Nayak (Red), Dan Rai (Colts), Matt Smith (Blue), Daniel Towns (Colts)

Garven Island Sharks (7): Andrew Cloete (Colts), Bryce Cunningham (Green), Simon Fitzsimmons (Colts), Andrew Garven (Green), Don Lezama (Green), Dave Richards (Black), Xavier Rose (Green)

Gofftown Tigers (8): Brendan Goff (Blue), R. G. E. W. S. Cribb (Blue), Trav Demeza (Blue), Chris Dwyer (Red), Shan Jasotharan (Colts), James Malthus (Colts), Greg Thomas (Colts), Rob Malone (Green)

Greater Robbham de Grooters (7): Ash Chaulk (Black), Rob Dauth (Red), Kenny Dobson (Red), Mat Mitchell (Green), Marc Robbins (Red), Nick Scott (Green). Signings: Muhammad Amir (Red)

Nixonstown Foxes (8): Nitin Dravid (Green), Zac Gelman (Black), Jamee Gray (Red), Paddy Gundry (Green), Matt Luff (Red). Signings: Manan Shah (Colts), Ben Fox (Black), Gerald Armstrong (Black)

Pickford Panthers (8): Dinusha de Silva (Blue), Sean Fuller (Blue), Kev Gough (Black), Tom Halsey (Green), Kexing Su (Black), Neil Pickup (Black), George Roberts (Black), Peter Young (Blue)

Stedingham Jets (8): Sean Bennett (Red), Chris Butler (Colts), Andy Cameron (Green), Megan Gaukroger (Green), Thamba Mamesh (Blue), Manjunath Reddlapalli (Red), James Stedman (Black). Signings: Thad Bochat (Colts)

Twybridge Titans (9): Alex Crampton (Blue), Arunava Das (Colts), Nick Hancock (Colts), Jack McNamara (Colts), Callum Thompson (Red), Tarick Weber (Colts). Signings: Blake Donald (Black), Josh Forner (Green), Ben Wilshere (Blue)

Maddington Frenzy (7): Signings: Aseem Sharma (Red), Martyn Corrin (Green), Corey McMeekin (Black), Lee Payne (Blue), Alamgir Syed (Black), James May-Quinlan (Blue), Rob Malone jnr. (youth contract)

Fitzworthingham Broncos (8): Signings: Will Kerr (Colts), Dave Hogarth (Green), Jack Ullungura (Blue), Don Speirs (Green), Ethan McNamara (Green), Rhys Williams (Blue), Ash Arnold (Blue), Kyle Wright (Colts, from Campsfield)

The first round might be slightly delayed, as I need to build the database and I have two assignments due Friday. After that we should get rolling, at least until I can find someone to take over simming duties.

Finally, I'd like to lob the idea out that the "last game" played is the last game played by the team. Thus, if you were selected for an FC game on Thursday, you can't play grade cricket on Friday even though your Dev team has a bye. While this defeats one purpose of grade cricket - to have something to do while on byes - I think it's more realistic this way, I think the playing field will be more level, and it should also make the grade teams a bit more settled.

 

[Mister Wright]

I've seen some great properties in the Fitzworthington area, and it will allow me to travel less for grade games if I can play there.

Disapointed my proposal for Kylston as the new franchise didn't win.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

I've seen some great properties in the Fitzworthington area, and it will allow me to travel less for grade games if I can play there.

Disapointed my proposal for Kylston as the new franchise didn't win.

Transfer noted.

The Kylston franchise was considered, but ultimately turned down on the basis that the Colts draw a large percentage of its fan base from the town.