WANGARATTA cricket will be taking a different look this summer with the removal of two-day matches and a shift to one-day and Twenty20 formats. The move to remove two-day matches from the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association (WDCA) A grade fixture and place an exclusive focus on one-day matches across all grades for the 2025/26 season was made official at WDCA’s AGM on Monday night. A grade one day games will be extended from 40 overs to 45 overs to start at 12:30pm, with the match ceasing once a result has been reached. The league will also be adding T20 matches into the top grade while A reserve, B grade and C grade will remain fixtured exclusively as one day matches. Incoming WDCA president James Ladd said the move was supported by most clubs represented at the meeting, as the league looked to the more modern format to create a consistent form of cricket across all grades. “If that’s what other leagues are offering, and people are looking at other places then we’ll have a go at that here to try and keep ourselves current,” he said. “It will be decided on again for the next season, it’s not necessarily down forever.” Ladd said the league was excited about the prospect of introducing Twenty20 matches to A grade to give clubs a better opportunity to host events and night games around the matches. “We’re hoping it’ll bring more people to the clubs and notice around cricket,” he said. “It’s the biggest code of cricket in the world at the moment and we want to be aligned with that.” Ladd will be replacing Justin Kelly in the league’s presidency after his three-year tenure in the role. After growing up in Sydney and shifting to Alexandra, Ladd moved to Benalla in 2021 and has been a member of the Benalla Bushrangers since. Ladd said he felt ready to take on the president role and help build on the already strong relationships that exist between clubs across the district. “We’re in a crux moment in the league and we need to take control of it and make some changes for the future of what the people want the league to be,” he said. “It’s a really good league, we’re really well spread out, we’ve got good travel times between clubs, and we have really good relationships between clubs. “I just want to thank Justin for his support and his service to the league, he’s done a really good job and stepped up to the plate when no one else would.” Ladd said he would be placing an emphasis on continuing on from the league’s work in creating clear communications and processes among clubs throughout his first season in the role. “Every year we’re always wanting more people to step up and assist, more people less work is the way I see it,” he said.
