Tambellup aiming for third straight title but GSCA reduced to five teams after loss of Frankland River

Five teams will compete for the 2021-22 Great Southern Cricket Association premiership after the loss of Frankland River from last season, with the new season starting on Saturday. Frankland River finished at the bottom of the ladder last season with two wins to their name. Fifteen home-and-away rounds will be played before a two-week finals series. Jack Batchelor has taken over the GSCA presidency, replacing Jedd Herbert. The new president said the competition was set to be very strong again despite the loss of Frankland River. “Unfortunately, Frankland River have dropped out but we still have five very strong teams,” he said. “Frankland have got a core five or six players but they were struggling to get 11 every week and a few of their guys have young children playing sport in Albany, so it just became too hard. “The dropping of a team means we get an extra two games of cricket in, so if there is a positive to come from all of this, that’s it.” For the first time, the GSCA will implement fielding restrictions this season. Teams will only be allowed two fielders outside the inner circle in the first eight overs and a maximum of five fielders outside the inner circle for the rest of the game. The finals will be a top-four system, with the top two getting a double chance while the standalone B-grade grand final has been scrapped given there are only five teams. Tambellup will attempt to win a third straight title this season and start their campaign next Saturday against Kendenup. The reigning premiers have the bye in the opening round. “We are going to see a change I think,” Batchelor said. “Tambellup have lost a few of their key players and Broomehill have picked a couple of handy ones up. “Australs have been building for two or three years now and hopefully they can put some games together, I think they will be a team to watch in the next couple of seasons.” Batchelor said the association was again looking forward to taking a strong team to Perth for country week and for the chance for a number of local players to compete in Albany’s Southern Smash in late December. The GSCA will have a break mid-season for harvest and new year and there will also be no local cricket during country week and over the March long weekend. Batchelor was excited about taking on the role of association president. “I’ve been very fortunate to be vice-president for the last two years under Jedd,” he said. “He has left the association in a great position — it runs very smoothly and I’ve got a great committee around me.” GREAT SOUTHERN CRICKET ASSOCIATION 2021-22 FIXTURES Round 1 October 16 Kendenup v Broomehill Wanderers v Australs Round 2 October 23 Tambellup v Kendenup Broomehill v Australs Round 3 October 30 Broomehill v Tambellup Wanderers v Kendenup Round 4 November 6 Australs v Tambellup Wanderers v Broomehill Round 5 November 13 Kendenup v Broomehill Australs v Wanderers Round 6 November 20 Tambellup v Wanderers Australs v Kendenup Round 7 November 27 Kendenup v Tambellup Broomehill v Australs Round 8 December 4 Australs v Tambellup Wanderers v Broomehill Round 9 December 11 Kendenup v Australs Wanderers v Tambellup Round 10 January 8 Tambellup v Kendenup Australs v Broomehill Round 11 January 29 Tambellup v Broomehill Kendenup v Wanderers Round 12 February 5 Broomehill v Kendenup Wanderers v Australs Round 13 February 12 Tambellup v Australs Broomehill v Wanderers Round 14 February 19 Kendenup v Wanderers Broomehill v Tambellup Round 15 February 26 Tambellup v Wanderers Australs v Kendenup Semifinals March 12 1st v 2nd 3rd v 4th Prelim final March 13 Grand final March 19