ACB Cup fixtures released

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today released details of the ACB Cup fixtures for 2000/01.

Played for the first time on an experimental basis in 1999/2000, the ACB Cup is the national second XI competition. From this summer, each State Cricket Association and the ACT Cricket Association will play each other home and away and the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy (CBCA) will play away matches over a four-year period, although there will be a winner at the end of each season.

Playing conditions for the ACB Cup are the same as the Pura Cup except that the 12-player rule will apply as in the Mercantile Mutual Cup Competition.

Each State and the ACT will play a minimum of four games each season with the CBCA playing all States and the ACT.

Points are awarded as in the Pura Cup Competition. However, as the amount of games played by each State, the ACT and the CBCA varies each season, the final points tally of each side will be calculated depending on the number of games they play.

The winner of the ACB Cup will be the team that finishes on top of the ladder at the completion of all matches each season.

ACB Manager, Development and Coaching, Gerard Clarke said of this season's ACB Cup: "Before last season, Interstate second eleven cricket had always been conducted on an ad-hoc basis.

"The ACB Cup is an attempt to formalise that process for the benefit of the States and all young players as it allows them to compete on a National stage and hopefully helps to bridge the gap between Grade cricket and the first class arena."