And WDCA junior committee chairman Gordon McLeod's advice to youngsters was simple ? don't be afraid of turf.

He said division one would become a turf wicket competition from next season and said it was important juniors gained experience on the surface.

"We are trying to encourage kids playing off turf because it is a different game (to a hard wicket)," McLeod said.

"Technique issues come into play and if you are a bowler you can do different things with the ball.

"The whole idea is to give younger players the opportunity to play on turf so it doesn't become so much of an ogre when they step up to senior grades."

The under 15 and under 13 semi finals begin this Friday. A turf wicket has been penciled in for the under 13 Merrivale and Russells Creek stoush at Merrivale, with Allan Oval as a back up.

McLeod said several clubs were proactive in giving juniors turf exposure.

"Throughout the year, if a turf wicket has been available, some clubs have let their junior sides play on it.

"In fact last Friday Merrivale had a game on turf."

He tipped the junior grand finals, set for Allansford on February 21, to be a cricket "bonanza".

Under 11, 13, 15, 17 games will be on the same ground.

The under 15s and 17s will play on turf, while the under 13s will play on the hard wicket. Meanwhile the under 11s will play as a curtain-raiser to the under 15 grand final.

"It is going to be a spectacle of cricket. It should be interesting," McLeod said.