THE Horsham Cricket Association is taking a "wait and see" approach to the upcoming summer season.
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Victoria's COVID-19 regulations have delayed the start of the 2021/22 season by at least a month, with the first ball expected to be bowled in November.
HCA president Josh Mahoney said the association had learned from previous experiences and was well-prepared for whatever was thrown at them this season.
"We're ready to go really, it's just a matter of when the government gives us the all clear to play team sport again," he said.
According to the Victoria government's pandemic roadmap, announced September 19, community sport will not resume until the state reaches its target of 80 per cent double vaccinated.
The state is set to reach that target on November 5, but sport may not resume immediately as players and administrators need time to prepare.
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"Last year, we would have started at about the same time, but normally we'd be looking around the middle of October," Mahoney said.
"It's pushed us back about a month, by the time we get started."
Mahoney believes a flexible approach is the best way to deal with any issues arising throughout the season.
"We'll just go with the flow and do what we can," he said.
"We went through it a bit last year; we lost one round to COVID.
"We're not going to release a draw until we get closer to the start date, just so we can be a bit more flexible and not be putting things in stone now that we'll have to change again."
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Mahoney said cricket is uniquely placed to be adaptable in the face of external forces such as COVID-19.
"We're used to it with cricket, we lose games to hot weather and rain every year," he said.
"Even bushfires cancel rounds; mother nature throws curveballs anyway so preparedness is built into our bylaws."
Cricket's adaptability has seen the HCA adjust and learn from previous experiences during the pandemic.
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"We were the first ones to be hit by COVID as well; our finals series (in March 2020) got cancelled," Mahoney said.
"We've even built scenarios into our bylaws where, if the season gets cancelled by certain stages; we know what to do.
"We'll just take what we've learned over the past few years and put it into this year.
"We're just there to facilitate cricket being played and enabling everyone to get out there and play cricket, catch up and have a bit of fun."
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