Green and Gold Machine
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VICTORIAN cricket fans face a shutout from the national 50-over competition, the Ryobi Cup, one year out from the MCG hosting the World Cup final.
Cricket Australia is set to shrink the schedule and play all matches in Sydney in October.
The Herald Sun believes teams will play six matches at grade cricket venues and, depending on availability, the SCG.
Last summer, the Ryobi Cup was played across 165 days, culminating on February 26 when Queensland defeated Victoria in an epic final at the MCG.
But in a five-Test Ashes summer and with a greater emphasis on the Twenty20 Big Bash, the 50-over competition will start and finish in about three weeks.
A Cricket Australia spokesman confirmed the overhaul of the format.
"The thinking is to play the format in a condensed block at the beginning of the season,'' he said.
http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cri...-start-of-season/story-fni2usfi-1226688989139
:lol:
Interesting way to prepare for a home World Cup less than a year and a half away I must say.