CRICKET Victoria chief executive Tony Dodemaide will tour Border cricket grounds this morning as part of the organisation’s “On Common Ground” plan for development of cricket facilities.
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The state government has allocated $10 million over four years for the development of facilities, programs and clubs in regional areas.
The money comes alongside the $25 million contribution for the Junction Oval Cricket and Community Centre in St Kilda.
Dodemaide said the state governing body was being mindful not to be too focused on metropolitan cricket, and aimed to create hubs in Ballarat, Bendigo and Albury- Wodonga.
“This program is about looking after people who play the game,” the former Test cricketer said.
“It’s about identifying and collaborating with local governments and seeing how we can improve the facilities we have, as well as looking at the potential for high performance facilities.”
While the Common Ground project is still in its early days, Dodemaide said there was a need to create more opportunites for elite cricketers being developed from regional areas.
A dormitory block will be built as part of the Junction Oval facilities, taking some of the travel and accommodation stress out for families who have to travel for higher level cricketing exploits.
“The Junction Oval is a major priority, we’ve never had our own home base in seven or eight years of operation,” Dodemaide said.
“Incorporated in those plans is a dormitory style accommodation where we can bring groups from regional areas down to Melbourne and give them the experience they need with the elite coaches.”
The possibility of hosting state cricket matches or Big Bash League games was also flagged, although Dodemaide said this would be part of ongoing discussions with leagues, and councils.
