BUDDING cricketers aiming for Western Waves' spots will have to wait another year after the 2020-21 Youth Premier League was cancelled.
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Cricket Victoria announced the representative tournament, which pits the best regional and metropolitan teenage players against one another at under 14, under 16 and under 18 levels, had fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Waves are selected from the south-west Victoria catchment area and provided a pathway to the Victorian Bushrangers for Tommy Jackson (Woodford) and Brody Couch (Nirranda) in recent years.
Former Woodford leader John Houston had coached Waves teams in the past and was planning to do so again in 2020-21.
But the experienced mentor understands the decision to abandon the competition given the uncertainty around state government lockdown time-frames.
"It is a little bit disappointing. With the way everything is it's hard, by now we should have our squads and be heavily involved and be on the back-end of finalising them and we haven't been able to meet or train," Houston said.
"Unfortunately it's a sign of the times, everything is struggling and that's one that has been put on ice for a bit."
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Houston said it was important to give junior cricketers something to strive for.
"Ones who are on the higher end would have plans they are working through," he said.
"It's the third and fourth tier who really get a lot out of it as well who are going to suffer in the short-term."
Houston said he was hopeful cricket would start in the region in October, giving players some normality.