Play all audios:
AdSportCricketSportCricketNews HomeGood morning, Your ContentNewslettersMy saved ListAccount & SupportMy AccountContact UsHelp CenterLogoutNewsSportCommunityTributes &
FuneralsClassifiedsExplore TravelEntertainmentLifestyleRecommendedQuick LinksToday’s PaperDownload our appInteractive PuzzlesViewJobsNetworkVideoView real estatePress Releases from
AAPContact usHelp CentrePrivacy PolicyAbout usView Subscription OffersThe Examiner's complete view of propertyHome/Sport/CricketThe Interchange: How can cricketers dodge rainy Saturdays in
October? By Brian AllenUpdated October 23 2022 - 11:30am, first published 11:00amBy Brian AllenUpdated October 23 2022 - 11:30am, first published
11:00amFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyRiverside and South Launceston cricketers cover the pitch during a rain delay a fortnight ago at NTCA no.1. The opening three games of the Cricket
North season have been affected by inclement weather. Picture by Rod Thompson You have to feel for the cricketers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access. Login or signup to continue reading
50% off EOFY SaleAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other regional websites in your areaContinue Year after year it seems
they're cursed by the weather.
It's incredibly bad luck we had four gorgeous days of sun this week only for it to start bucketing down at about midday on Saturday.
What makes it harder to swallow is that it stopped raining by 3pm.
By then it's either too late or things like the bowler's run-up aren't fit for play.
Wouldn't it be great if life worked like this: That we didn't have all our other commitments and on say Thursday of last week, when the sun was shining for hours, and cricketers could go
'we're playing today!'.
Alas, we can't just set up the stumps whenever the weather suits.
Having played numerous seasons, you consider washouts part of the game.
But of course there's the disappointment of not being able to get out there with your mates and convert practice into performance.
READ MORE: Pair to bring experience to fast-growing Seagulls list
South Launceston players cover the pitch in a heavy rain shower during their one-dayer against Westbury at Ingamells Oval. Picture by Phillip Biggs Cricket's also cut-throat with its small
margins for error in batting and bowling so you get nervous in the lead-up.
It sucks when you realise that nervous energy might go nowhere once you hear the pitter, patter of rain on your bedroom window on a Saturday morning.
I don't think it's just 'Tassie weather' either as it often rained on Saturdays at this time of year when I was growing up in Wodonga in Victoria.
Teams from the Cricket Tasmania Premier League, Cricket North (CN) and TCL either didn't get to play or only got through a few overs on the weekend before play was called.
For CN men's first grade, it came after the Duckworth-Lewis system was needed in round one.
Then Riverside and South Launceston got washed out last week after the Blues only got through 17 overs of their batting innings.
Both sides have barely played any cricket in the first three weeks of the season.
Like any outdoor sport or event, cricket is at the mercy of mother nature.
Is there much we can do about it?
Straight up, why not start the season later when the weather is consistently better?
The issue is it would likely come at the cost of games because you'd have the problem of footy being at the other end.
The State League and NTFA start about late March so there'd be the concern of ground and player availability across the two sports if cricket went beyond its current end point. The CN
first-grade men's grand final is on March 26.
Another way to look at that, and one which could help cricket, is to shorten footy season and start that in May. With at least 18 rounds and finals, it's a long footy season right across
Australia and one which could be scaled down.
One idea would be to get every footy team to play each other once during the home and away season and then expand the finals.
With the weather typically still good through April, it seems cricket would have a better chance of getting full games in as opposed to battling through October.
Another thought is to squeeze more one-day cricket in during the better weather.
But because it can require about seven hours of play that's difficult to do when also juggling Twenty20 and two-day cricket.
The CN back-to-back one-dayers coming up on November 5 and 6 seem a great idea given what's happened the past few weeks.
Let's hope the weather can be kind to the players that weekend.
Alternatively, given its length, perhaps T20 cricket should be played first (through October) before the one-dayers.
Last year's Cricket North T20s were played from November 11 to December 16. This year's carnival style tournament is scheduled for the December 17-18 weekend before the grand final on
January 13.
Given its shorter game time, T20 appears to offer more flexibility for moving a match to a weeknight if the forecast doesn't look good.
These ideas might not fit the bill but it would be great to dodge this inclement weather that seems to roll in on Saturdays in October every year.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
Bookmark www.examiner.com.auMake sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newslettersFollow us on Twitter: @examineronlineFollow us on Instagram: @examineronlineFollow
us on Google News: The ExaminerShareFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyBrian AllenSports JournalistPassionate about covering all sports from Ultimate Frisbee through to the latest footy and
netball updates. Started at The Examiner in January 2022. Was part of the Warrnambool Standard's sports team which won the 2019 AFL Victoria Best Print/Online coverage for a daily newspaper.
Got a story?Email: [email protected] about covering all sports from Ultimate Frisbee through to the latest footy and netball updates. Started at The Examiner
in January 2022. Was part of the Warrnambool Standard's sports team which won the 2019 AFL Victoria Best Print/Online coverage for a daily newspaper. Got a story?Email:
[email protected] from AFLHow many wins does your team need to make the finals? The draw quirk makes it hard to tellRohan Connolly•No commentsYoung star back with a
bang as Bulldogs smack SaintsShayne HopeCrows coach laments 'unfair' report involving veteranAnna HarringtonHow many wins does your team need to make the finals? The draw quirk makes it hard
to tellRohan Connolly•No commentsYoung star back with a bang as Bulldogs smack SaintsShayne HopeCrows coach laments 'unfair' report involving veteranAnna HarringtonLions 'heartbeat' back as
Giants sweat on skipperShayne Hope and Joanna GuelasMore from Cricket'Premier' Cummins needs to deliver one more time'Panicked' Proteas batter relieved to avoid dismissalUp to Australia's
bowlers again in WTC title defenceFormer world champ, BBL title-holder signs extension with HurricanesNo comments'Not my best moment'; Rabada responds in Lord's final'Unbelievable' Aussie
pace pack lord it at Lord's againNewsletters & AlertsView all Daily
Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.
Loading... Weekdays
The lunch break Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation.
Loading... Weekdays
The evening wrap Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening.
Loading... Weekly
Subscriber OnlyNote from the Editor Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters.
Loading... Weekly
Subscriber OnlyFootyHQ Love footy? We've got all the action covered.
Loading... Weekly
Sport The latest news, results & expert analysis.
Loading... Weekly
Explore Travel Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe.
Loading... Weekdays
The Echidna Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more.
Loading... Twice weekly
The Informer Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday.
Loading... Twice weekly
Voice of Real Australia Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over.
Loading... As it happens
Subscriber OnlySpecial Reports Get the very best journalism from The Examiner by signing up to our special reports.
Loading... Weekly
Motoring Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner.
Loading... As it happens
Breaking news alert Be the first to know when news breaks.
Loading... Daily
Subscriber OnlyToday's Paper Alert Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am!
Loading... Daily
Subscriber OnlyYour favourite puzzles Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!
Loading... Advertisement
Ad Advertisement
AdAustralian Community MediaACM WebsiteConditions of UsePrivacyTerms and Conditions - Digital SubscriptionTerms and Conditions - Newspaper SubscriptionThe ExaminerContactAbout UsWorking With
UsToday's PaperCommenting GuidelinesView Property EditionHelp CentreOur SitesViewExploreView InsuranceBeevoPlace an AdClassifiedsCarsTributes & FuneralsCelebrationsPromo
CodesAgTraderMeHelpFarmer's FinanceGarage SalesSubmitSend a letter to the EditorSend Us Your News