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[OllieWalker39]

Hi guys,

The more and more I fall out with my job (getting fed up of being given more work than one man can handle), the more I think about heading down to Aus to play cricket for a season. I've had friends who've gone as a general gap year (not playing cricket) and say they love it - some have even stayed!

However, I'm not wanting to head over to play a standard that might be too high for me, or one that might be a bit easy - I have a nasty habit of not switching on and getting myself out to buffet-bowling!

So, I'm wondering: What's the grade system like, and what do their grades translate to over here? We've currently got an opener who's playing Grade 1 cricket back home, and he's just that little bit better. Technically about the same, but never looks hurried playing for us etc so definitely a classier player.

If anyone has done it and has any recommendations, fire them on here!

Thanks,

OW

[Kieron_BT]

Hope someone can help you on here but aren't you just better off having a word with your opener currently playing for your club and see what level he recommends for your seeing as he will have seen you play?

[Twelfth Man]

The term 1st Grade in Australia could mean anything back in Australia. As you could have 1st Grade in country cricket but then 1sts in the city which would be the equivalent standard of county cricket almost. County cricketers in the UK head to the cities to play 1st grade in the winter, the likes of Billings was at Penrith, Rory Burns at Randwick, Jason Roy's been at Eastern Suburbs. It's the Sydney/Melbourne 1st grade sides you see the State and International pros in too regularly (they have to).

It depends what you're after. If you have good stats etc, you could get your flights paid for, accomodation and a job once there but could be a few hours away from any of the major cities. If not so much then go for the city lifestyle and paying your own way, playing 2s/3s and having that experience maybe?

I've played three seasons in Aus myself the past three years btw!

[Biggie Smalls]

District grade cricket in the capital cities has 5 grades . As mentioned it's almost county standard in some cities ie Sydney and Melbourne . You could just go to pre season trials and by the sounds of it you'd get graded . You would be playing an appropriate standard without having to try to work that out yourself.  As a backup /alternative there is also shires cricket which has 4 grades and is similar to district grade except 1st grade shires would be slightly lower standard than 1st grade district grade ( don't make me say whether its equivalent to 2nd or 3rd grade etc ....it varies club to club , and I'd get in trouble for being so controversial  ). Either way you'd be playing turf cricket at well organized clubs with decent facilities /organization etc .
Trials for district grade and shires usually begin mid july/ early august , depending on the club .

[OllieWalker39]

Hope someone can help you on here but aren't you just better off having a word with your opener currently playing for your club and see what level he recommends for your seeing as he will have seen you play?

- You're right there, but no harm in having more views! I've probably left it too late to go this year mind!

As regards to 1st grade - He's in Melbourne. Sounds good regards the trials side of things - that way I wouldn't be struggling. I've seen it where lads have come over from Aus to us, and struggled to make a run - that would just be a terrible year! I'd probably just go for the experience really - Having a terrible season to date, scored about 500 runs whilst our Aus is romping away with 900 or so. And I'm guessing if you start playing a lower grade it works like our 1sts, 2nds etc where you just get selected for a higher team?

@Twelfth Man - What sort of standard do you play over here? And what grade did you venture to over there?

Thanks so far! 

[Biggie Smalls]

Where you get graded after trials is just your starting point . After each round ( normally every 2nd week) all grades are reselected . Its not unheard of for people to go up or down even a couple grades from one round to the next . Theoretically,  you could start in 5s and work your way up to 1s ...or vise versa .

[Twelfth Man]

@OllieWalker39 Batting at 3 for our 1s at home mate. Used to be a bowler but injuries in the past three seasons has wrecked that plan so just focus on batting now haha. I ended up playing a couple of hours out of the city in their 1st grade comp. I played two seasons at the same club as I got along with everybody well so went back and also played a season near where my sister lives out there.

From my experience, it'll be the facilities on offer that's the difference and if you're in a city environment I highly doubt that you're going to get bored which is more important than you might potentially think! If you're in the country parts of Australia, it could get a little bit tedious at times from experience...

[OllieWalker39]

@OllieWalker39 Batting at 3 for our 1s at home mate. Used to be a bowler but injuries in the past three seasons has wrecked that plan so just focus on batting now haha. I ended up playing a couple of hours out of the city in their 1st grade comp. I played two seasons at the same club as I got along with everybody well so went back and also played a season near where my sister lives out there.

Sounds like we're in the same boat haha! I'm batting at 4 for our 1s after previously being an opening bowler - been a nightmare in honesty!

Yeah I hear you on the living in the city - I'm not good at being on my own, but would be wanting to work whilst over there! Prefer having people about to have a laugh with. And I guess it's almost a total flip of over here - i.e. the English lads all get to know each other like the Aussies and Kiwis do over here?!