After a brief hiatus last summer, the Western Zone Premier League is back, but it’s lacking Mudgee – for now.
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Western Zone chairman Mark Frecklington said the competition, last won by the Bathurst District Cricket Association two years ago, will return this season after previous administration deemed the tournament had “gone backwards” in the five years it ran from 2011 onwards.
Frecklington said the opening round of the tournament, which will be a double-header on the weekend of October 7 and 8, will serve as the ideal tool for zone selectors as they endeavour to pick a squad capable of defending last year’s country championship win.
Cowra, Parkes, Bathurst, Dubbo and Orange representative sides have nominated for the premier league competition.
Mudgee, who’s struggles in the 2015 season to field a full-strength team, is absent from the top-grade league for cricket in the region.
The move to the premier league style of competition sees the battles of Mitchell, Lachlan and Macquarie fall by the wayside.
“We’ve moved away from inter-council stuff as primary means of finalising a zone team,” he said, with no plans for the old Mitchell, Lachlan and Macquarie senior clashes this summer.
“I think last year was a bit of an aberration. The idea to can it was tossed around (last year) and that was the way we went, but as soon as it was gone players called for it to be back,” Frecklington said.
“I think it’s best for the zone to have it back.”
For Mudgee, however, it means a loss of the representative chances that came with the council clashes.
The question on the lips of players from Mudgee however, is simple – does this mean that we will be returning to the premier league as well?
The question for the rest of the league is a little different – will Mudgee be able to field a side to bolster the league, or will they have to sit on the sidelines for another year.
Dubbo takes on Bathurst and Cowra hosts Orange in the opening round, while Dubbo travels to Orange in round two and Parkes will take on Cowra.