New rules set for cricket season

Matt Caulfield ducks an Al Hickey bouncer. (Justin Flynn) 190778

Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association will introduce promotion and relegation in its B Grade competition next season.

Promotion and relegation has been part of the cricket landscape in A1 and A2 Grades the past two seasons, but now B1 and B2 Grades will take part.

Last season Portarlington was relegated from A1 Grade and St Leonards earned promotion to A1 Grade.

There will be no relegation between B2 and C Grade and C Grade and D Grade.

Drysdale proposed that the association introduce B2 Grade, which will play 60-over cricket for two-day games and 40 overs for one-day matches.

B1 Grade will still play 75-over games.

The method of allocating grand final venues has also changed.

St Leonards proposed that no participating club will host a grand final on their own ground and it was passed at the BPCA’s AGM recently.

The heat rule has also been amended. Previously A and B Grade games were called off if the Bureau of Meteorology forecasted a temperature of 40 degrees or more at 8am on the day of play. C and D Grades were 38 degrees.

Now all grades will be cancelled if the BOM forecasts a top temperature of 38 degrees for Geelong.

All games will now start at 1pm regardless of grade or whether it is a one-day or two-day game.

Previously, one-day matches started 1.15pm and two-day matches at 1.30pm during daylight savings time.