By Jonty Ralphsmith
The Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) has made clear its intention to work with clubs for the 2024-25 season.
It follows a relationship breakdown between the CCCA board and member clubs, which have felt at times in recent years that the league has not been receptive of their ideas.
Ben Knowles has replaced Rob Hansen as CCCA president and emphasised to this masthead in August the direction he was hoping to take the league.
“The trust has definitely waivered over the last couple of years, so that’s the number-one thing, winning that back, and then putting important pillars in place for the future,” Knowles said.
“At the end of the day, we’re here for the clubs.
“The clubs elected to make this change because they were worried about the future of the association.
“They wanted change, they wanted to modernise it; and now I’m putting it back on them.
“The clubs got what they wanted, but where are we going from here?
“The ball is now firmly in the court of the clubs; we now have the opportunity to build an association together that is attractive to other clubs throughout Casey and Cardinia.”
Vice-president Ben Parrot echoed a similar sentiment at the CCCA season launch in mid-September, which was attended by 10 member clubs.
“We want the clubs to know we’re there to work for them; we’re not working as a board deciding for them, we are working for the clubs.
“Decisions aren’t made by the board, it’s driven by the clubs so we at no stage make decisions for them.
“They make decisions and we verify that; where I think for a long time the shoe was on the other foot.
“We want to build that trust again among the clubs.
“I think the relationship between all the clubs has never been as strong as what it is now and we’re seeing clubs supporting one another and it’s the way it should have been a long way before this but we finally got there so we will continue driving that.”
Highlighting the increasing trust, the CCCA committee has added two members – Devon Meadows president Mick Floyd and umpire David Huntington – due to demand.
Parrot and Knowles have both also highlighted the increased focus on female cricket, with the vice-president also impressed with the clubs working together to drive junior participation in the region.
Another noteworthy change to the CCCA in 2024-25 is the addition of an eighth team, Melbourne Sixers, to the second-flight District competition, providing each club with the opportunity to play 14 games, rather than 12 with two byes, as happened last season.
Melbourne Sixers came fifth in the B Grade competition in 2023-24 and lost the D Grade semi final after finishing the season in second place.
The Sixers will have four teams this season and are based at Barton Reserve, Cranbourne West.
The CCCA kicks off this Saturday.
