With one exception – the Waterloo Region – all the public health areas in Ontario move up to Step 2 today (June 30, 2021) under the provincial government’s current COVID-19 Recovery scheme so outdoor cricket can be played for the first time this year. Most of the full member leagues of Cricket Ontario seem set for action this coming weekend (July 3 & 4) but some games are due to be played today (June 30) in the associate/affiliate Mississauga Premier Cricket League.
The 2021 season is set to open this weekend for four Cricket Ontario Full Member leagues, namely the Toronto & District Cricket Association (TDCA), Brampton-Etobicoke District Cricket League (BEDCL), Mississauga Cricket League (MCL), Ottawa Valley Cricket Council (OVCC) and Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA). Schedules have not yet been posted for the Hamilton & District Cricket League (HDCL).
These leagues support competitions with different over limits ranging from the relatively recent 100 balls format up through 10, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50 over limit competitions. Most include both 50-over and T20 formats. The shorter formats make it possible to allow games on summer evenings although some grounds are beginning to feature floodlights. Shorter format cricket allowed weekend morning games to be played, increasing the number of participating players and teams before 40 or 50 over games follow later in the day.
Beyond the Full Members, Cricket Ontario lists five Affiliated Members, although based on the definitions in the Constitution and Bylaws these entities would seem to be Associate Members. The opening of the season for the Region of Waterloo Cricket Association (ROWCA) is currently stalled as the Waterloo Region is to remain under the restrictions of Ontario’s Step 1 regulations. As already mentioned, the season is set to open today for the Mississauga Premier Cricket League (MPCL) with some games at the Mavis/Courtneypark ground.
Beyond the Full Members, Cricket Ontario lists five Affiliated Members, although based on the definitions in the Constitution and Bylaws these entities would seem to be Associate Members. Canadian College Cricket (CCC) is currently listed as the only Associate Member of Cricket Ontario. Hopefully Canadian College Cricket will be able to host an outdoor tournament for universities and colleges this summer but the logistics may be a challenge. There were some local efforts to keep indoor cricket ticking along at some colleges and universities in the fall of 2020.
The opening of the season for the Region of Waterloo Cricket Association (ROWCA) is currently stalled as the Waterloo Region is to remain under the restrictions of Ontario’s Step 1 regulations while all other public health regions in Ontario move up to Step 2.
As already mentioned, the season is set to open today for the Mississauga Premier Cricket League (MPCL) with some games at the Mavis/Courtneypark ground. I did not find any nformation on when the Northern Ontario Cricket League (NOCL) or South Western Ontario Cricket League (SWOCL) plan to begin play this season. The Northern Ontario Cricket League facebook entries included a brief video of post-game presentations with long shadows after
North Bay Royals beat Orillia Cricket Club to win a trophy in 2020.
There are some other leagues in Ontario that are not currently members, associates or affiliates of Cricket Ontario. Hopefully, some day soon, there will be a coming together of the overall cricket communities within Ontario and the cricket’s provincial governing body might move towards securing sponsorships to assist awareness of cricket as well as the game’s development and promotion within the province. Something that seemed to be one of my targets back in the spring of 2006 for the game at the national level in Canada.
Meanwhile, the likes of the Brampton and Lakeshore Cricket Leagues continue to operate and provide the opportunity for several people to develop as cricketers.
The Brampton Cricket League season opens for both the T35 and T20 competitions on Thursday, Canada Day, July 1, 2021. The T35 has Elite and Premier Divisions while the T20 has divisions 1, 2 and 3.
The Lakeshore Cricket League is inviting registrations and anticipates operating Elite and Premier Division cricket this summer. Seven teams participated in Lakeshore’s Elite Division in 2020 and eight teams took part in the 2020 Premier Division. Lakeshore’s winter cricket operations dropped off the map due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am sure that some of the people who have put money into indoor cricket facilities will have taken some big financial hits since Ontario’s first COVID-19 lockdown began during March 2000. Let’s hope the path to better health and happiness really is opening up today, but, clearly, the development of many young people has been badly impacted in all aspects of life in the past 15 or so months.
Meanwhile, the short-term prospects of play in the Greater Toronto Area may not be too high for today. I thought it was brighter an hour or two ago but as 7am approaches, the sky is grey and some spots of rain are falling. Hot and humid conditions are projected in the weather forecast.
Eddie Norfolk, Toronto,
30 June 2021.