Following the announcement that the YPL carnivals for under-16 boys and under-15 girls have been suspended for the upcoming season, Cricket Victoria announced updates to its pathway system on Friday.
Under the new updates, Premier clubs will be involved in a five-round under-16 competition for boys and a three-day under-18 competition for girls.
In a bid to provide additional competition for the state's future stars, there will be a range of representative opportunities at traditional Victorian Country Cricket League, Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union and Victorian Sub District Cricket Association carnivals.
And Cricket Victoria will run an under-17 boys emerging players program tournament and an under-16 girls emerging players program tournament to be held in Hamilton and Wodonga respectively.
Both events will be held in January.
Despite the changes, Cricket Victoria has confirmed the two YPL carnivals will return in the 2021-22 season.
“From 2021-22 we’ll deliver a performance pathway that makes it simpler for players, parents, clubs and associations and our talent identification staff to build and develop our talent pipeline in Victoria,” Cricket Victoria chair David Maddocks said.
“We respect that a lot of work goes into this space at all levels and we want to support that, see it grow and ensure it continues to deliver fantastic results for players and for the next generation of Victorian players.”
The alignment with Premier cricket clubs for an underage competition is consistent with recommendations arising from a strategy review by Cricket Victoria.
From the 2021-22 season onward, it is hoped the youth pathway system will create a clear connection for boys and girls from club cricket through to the Premier level.
Cricket Victoria’s high performance manager Dean Russ said it was vital that the pathway was clear and concise for the next brigade of stars.
“Cricket is operating in a seriously competitive sporting environment in Victoria with all the other codes vying for talent,” he said.
“It’s incumbent on us to ensure the pathway we provide is as clear and concise as it can possibly be. In doing so we set ourselves up to find the next Meg Lanning or Aaron Finch of the future.”
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