Should Australia have 8 states instead of 6

[chris.hinton]

Do you think that ACT and Northern Terrority should be accepted into High level state cricket or do you think that it might push the standard down a little?

Discuss

[archie mac]

Not sure about the NT, but ACT should be put back into the domestic OD comp. With an eye entry into the SS in a couple of years

The ACT is imo at least 3 rungs below SS standard atm, but only one level down on OD

[pasag]

Gold Coast, IMO.

[Prince EWS]

Not sure about the NT, but ACT should be put back into the domestic OD comp. With an eye entry into the SS in a couple of years

The ACT is imo at least 3 rungs below SS standard atm, but only one level down on OD

I really don't think just playing one day cricket is a viable option. If players are good enough, they'll move states to play Shield cricket rather than just playing OD cricket for ACT, so the team will never actually have the opportunity to grow and compete. Obviously if there was a set plan to introduce them to the Shield at a set time regardless of how they went in limited overs comps it'd be a bit different but the way it was handled last time on a trial basis was never going to work.

[JBMAC]

Geographically and Talent available speaking NORTH QUEENSLAND should be allowed a team in the national competitions. Qld is so large it can be divided successfully at Rockhampton. The cricketers playing north of that line could give their southern counterparts a run for their money as shown in Country week

[pasag]

Geographically and Talent available speaking NORTH QUEENSLAND should be allowed a team in the national competitions. Qld is so large it can be divided successfully at Rockhampton. The cricketers playing north of that line could give their southern counterparts a run for their money as shown in Country week

Welcome back mate.

[Uppercut]

Gentle nudge in the direction of MSN, Zac

[chaminda_00]

Tasmania and SA already import half their players. Queensland and WA should import half their players as well. Really you don't need six states that can't produce their own talent to fill an XI. Four is enough.

[pasag]

Gentle nudge in the direction of MSN, Zac

Laptop is trying to download the newer version which wont work, will try ebuddy.

[BoyBrumby]

Tasmania and SA already import half their players. Queensland and WA should import half their players as well. Really you don't need six states that can't produce their own talent to fill an XI. Four is enough.

I reckon states (and counties in England) are a pretty haphazard way of organising sporting teams, tbh. Ignores the fact that Oz has a mainly urban-based population. Sydney alone has about twice as many people living in it as the whole of WA (and, obviously, the vast majority of those live in Perth too). Stands to reason areas with more people will produce more quality players.

The larger states could easily support at least another FC entity IMHO.

[archie mac]

I really don't think just playing one day cricket is a viable option. If players are good enough, they'll move states to play Shield cricket rather than just playing OD cricket for ACT, so the team will never actually have the opportunity to grow and compete. Obviously if there was a set plan to introduce them to the Shield at a set time regardless of how they went in limited overs comps it'd be a bit different but the way it was handled last time on a trial basis was never going to work.

They were going OK last time, and I was surprised when the team was scrapped, but yes I agree that a 3 season plan for entry into the SS would be a great thing. ACT has about 330,000 (from memory) and TAS only has 450,000, with the ACT only being 3 hours from Sydney and six from Melborune (both car, no time in a plane) it should not be a worry to have a team, even organising the players to get together for practice would not be a concern

[Simon]

ACT could potentially have a good enough side to be in both competition but they'd probably struggle to win more than a game or two every now and then. The players have ability but seem to lack consistentcy, someone like David Dawson who went to Tasmania scored a century and carried his bat in his first shield innings but has barely done anything since apart from one or two more tons in 6 years, John Rogers who scored a 98 as a 20 year old for ACT against the tourning Indian's last year went to Tassie as well but hasn't scored many runs.
Other than Michael Bevan and Brad Haddin the next best player produced from here is Mark Higgs and while he reasonable at his best he was never anything great.

If the Comets ever get put in both comps I'd hope in the long term it was via local talent rather than ring ins who havent quite been up to First Class standard, we have seen the likes of Mark Divin, Darren McNees, Graeme Cunningham go to the next level after coming here but none could really cement their place.

The local talent now though is as good as ever but as you could understand they have all left with Behrendorf going to WA, Irvine and Rogers in Tasmania, Floros to Qld, Ryan Carters to Victoria and Nic Death having previously had a WA rookie deal. Hopefully if Comets ever get in the main comps these guys will form the basis of the side.

[Burgey]

Good to have JBMAC back on board.

[DingDong]

I think victoria should have 2 teams as well. The way they are dominating the first class scene i don't see anybody else even having a chance to win anything unless this is done. I think it'll still be an all victorian final but at least other teams might be able to win a game here and there.

[Burgey]

We should add North Island and South Island. They nearly joined in 1901