Country Round

PREMIER CRICKET'S COUNTRY ROUND

Premier Cricket's "Country Round" has become an annual highlight for Premier Clubs, players and umpires and also for the VCCL host Associations. Country matches never feature on the tour itineraries of international teams any more, so Cricket Victoria sees this concept as crucial in maintaining the excellent relationship that exists between Premier Clubs and country areas. Cricket Victoria hopes that, by delivering a high standard of cricket to regional areas, this relationship will be maintained and enhanced. Part of Cricket Victoria's commitment to country cricket is also to schedule a Bushrangers' match each season to a regional centre - this season the KFC Big Bash clash against the Bulls on Sunday 4 January will be played at Skilled Stadium in Geelong.

With some good fortune with the scheduling, most of the Bushrangers' players will be able to play in the Country Round and this will enhance these matches enormously.

2008/09 is the eleventh successive season that Cricket Victoria's Premier Clubs will have taken a complete round of matches to country Victoria. Hosting a match for the first time this season will be Hamilton, bringing to 49 the number of venues around Victoria which have now been used since the first match at Bendigo in January 1994. Country Victoria has played a huge part in cricket in this state. Current Bushrangers' skipper Cameron White (Bairnsdale), recent Test debutant Peter Siddle (Morwell), Aiden Blizzard (Shepparton), Andrew McDonald (Albury) and many other great players over the years come from regional areas.

Some of the host associations have rescheduled their local cricket to the Sunday, while the Panthers v Lions clash at Kyabram will be a day-night match, starting at 2.30pm. This sure to provide local players, umpires and officials with a great opportunity to have a good look at the Premier match. As a further step towards supporting cricket regionally, Cricket Victoria has also appointed appropriately qualified and accredited local umpires to officiate in most of the matches along with a senior CV panel member. The senior country umpires appointed are Michael Bayly (Ballarat), Michael Hurley (Wangaratta), Clive Salmon (Leongatha), Colin Smith (Cobram), Peter Stonehouse (Warrion) and Allan Flavell (Hamilton).

LAST CHANCE IN THE ONE-DAYERS

Round 11 is the last of the season's preliminary rounds in the one-day series and "crunch-time" for teams in all grades. Semi Finals for all grades will be played on Sunday 25 January and the Finals on Sunday 8 February.

In the First XIs, Melbourne, Ringwood and Prahran are all virtually assured a semi-finals berth. The fourth qualifying spot is up for grabs, with the Blues, Cats and Hawks all fighting it out. The Magpies and Dragons also have an outside chance, but would have to be incredibly lucky for everything to fall into place.

The Second XIs see Melbourne and Northcote at the top, but only the Demons can feel secure. Even Carlton, in ninth place, is still in contention for a spot in the semi finals.

The Thirds is still wide open, also with nine teams still striving for those four spots. Camberwell Magpies, Prahran and Footscray Edgewater (all 21) head the table, but none are guaranteed a semi finals berth.

In the Fourths, St Kilda and Footscray Edgewater are clear and can book their semi final spot now. A further eight teams will fight it out for the remaining two spots.

Round 11 - Saturday 10 January 2009

DANDENONG v FITZROY DONCASTER at Kyabram (D/N match - 2.30pm start)
Umpires: Damian Herft & John Leehane

ST KILDA v FRANKSTON PENINSULA at Wangaratta
Umpires: Chris Allan & Michael Hurley

MELBOURNE UNI v CARLTON at Eastern Oval, Ballarat
Umpires: Michael Bayly & Bob Parry

CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE v HAWTHORN MONASH UNI at Leongatha
Umpires: Clive Salmon & John Ward

NORTH MELBOURNE v CAMBERWELL MAGPIES at Swan Hill
Umpires: Rod McKinnon & Tony Ward

GEELONG v FOOTSCRAY EDGEWATER at Melville Oval, Hamilton
Umpires: Allan Flavell & Peter Smith

NORTHCOTE v RICHMOND at Cobram
Umpires: Colin Smith & Russ Turner

RINGWOOD v ESSENDON at Horsham City Oval
Umpires: Mark Hanton & Trevor Leeden

MELBOURNE v PRAHRAN at Warrion
Umpires: David Jones & Peter Stonehouse

Matches played at venues as detailed above. Hours of Play: 11am - 5.50pm (except the match at Kyabram, which will be 2.30pm - 9.20pm). One-Day, 50 overs per side matches. 10-overs maximum per bowler, field-restriction circles apply. Coloured clothing and white balls used.

PHOTO QUIZ

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KOOKABURRA AWARDS

To view all the winners of the Kookaburra Awards up to Round 10 please click here

MILESTONES

Congratulations to the following players, umpires and scorers who have achieved, or are about to achieve, notable milestones. MORE

GET TO KNOW YOUR UMPIRES

Click to get to know CV Panel Umpire Peter Smith

DOWNLOADS

10 Years Ago (162.60 KB )	Country Round Matchups (178.32 KB )
Hec Oakley (201.25 KB )	Ladders (252.57 KB )
Leading Players & Performances (445.80 KB )	Matches At Country Round Venues (170.79 KB )
Memorable Country Round Matches (134.36 KB )	PE Cup Final (481.58 KB )
Stars Of The Country (192.89 KB )