The 3rd Trans Tasman Vintage Cricket Carnival will be staged on the Gold Coast of Queensland between Sunday 22nd May and Saturday 28th May, 2011 and will be a great opportunity for teams to play late autumn cricket on good turf and hard pitches.
As usual players must all be over the age of 35 on the 1st May, 2011 and be prepared to play cricket as it was intended-within the Vintage Cricket spirit.
Each team will play 3 games of 40 overs aside. There is a limit of 8 overs per bowler and teams must use 6 bowlers in each innings. The laws of cricket apply with minor variations to suit the age and agility of our players. Batsmen must retire once they have scored 30 and are able to be “recycled” once the full batting line-up has been connected. The wide bowling rule is relaxed a little as a strict interpretation could see some very long overs.
Sledging whilst not banned is discouraged on health grounds-breath should be preserved for playing the game not commenting on it. We have also found that some players who start a witty sledge often forget what they intended to say by the time they reach the end.
Rules and regulations can be varied by captains as they wish and provided there is agreement but we do insist that the lbw rules is applied and that batsmen can be dismissed for a duck.
Teams are expected to respect the traditions of the game and to wear suitable cricket attire. Coloured clothing is permitted and it is preferred that the colours worn by a team be all the same.
The Gold Coast Cricket Association and local clubs are looking forward to welcoming teams from Australia and New Zealand and maybe a little further afield to a further celebration of the great game of cricket.
Because the number of cricket dedicated grounds is a bit limited in the football season the number of teams will be limited to 20 and it will be a case of the 1st teams entered will be those that take part.
The 1st two Trans Tasman Carnivals were held in Rotorua in 2007 and in Armidale in 2009. Both attracted a good turnout of teams from Australia and New Zealand. Friendly Trans Tasman rivalry on and off the fields was a feature of both and as it rained a good deal in Rotorua much of the rivalry took place around dart boards, snooker and pool tables and ten pin bowling alleys. Armidale was a very enjoyable Carnival hosted by Kevin Pike, his worthy Wheatons teams and the Armidale District Cricket Association.
The Armidale set a very high standard in Vintage Cricket Carnivals and it has reflected in a number of teams asking when the next Trans Tasman Carnival is to take place and if they can reserve their places. We are very confident that Neville Taylor and his association will do an admirable job and continue a fast developing tradition of very enjoyable Trans Tasman Vintage Cricket Carnivals.
In amongst all this the most important element is for fun and friendship (and good competition) on and off the field.