Wollongong a viable Twenty20 contender

Wollongong could be one of the fronts in cricket's soon-to-be launched war on the football codes via a revamped Twenty20 competition based on tribalism instead of state rivalries.Cricket Australia plans to replace the Big Bash - contested by the six states - with an eight-team, city-based championship in 2011-12.That opens the door for Wollongong to join teams from the capitals and another regional centre in a tournament Cricket Australia hopes will bring fans and dollars back to the domestic game by copying the tribal antagonisms that have served rugby league and AFL so well.With the region the breeding ground of established stars Brett Lee and Phil Jacques and up-and-comers such as Nic Maddinson, Cricket Illawarra president Gordon Treadwell endorsed the idea of a Wollongong team on the national stage."For it to be a success, you really need a big base, the side clearly has to identify with a region," he said."You need the core of the side to be identifiable with the region; they need to be part of the local tribe with an ongoing and visible presence through school visits, coaching clinics and the like."The overhauled league is likely to include players being drafted to outfits outside their home states, but Treadwell declared the area's rich history of producing talent a major selling point."There are quite a few good cricketers playing in the Sydney competition, more than enough to have a competitive outfit and quite a few of them hailing from our region," Treadwell said."It would be very simple to set up, say, an Illawarra side that drew players from the Southern Sydney clubs." Wollongong would be competing with the likes of western Sydney, Newcastle, the Gold Coast, Canberra and Darwin for entry.Treadwell said the Wollongong's proximity to Sydney boosted its chances."Geography can play a big part, we aren't all that far from the Sydney competition and so it would be relatively simple to have enough players nearby for a side," he said.A sticking point would be the region's premier cricket venue, North Dalton Park, which will host a Ford Ranger Cup match on Australia Day.Cricket Australia will be seeking arenas that accommodate television broadcasts and anticipated crowd growth."Dalton Park may need some work to be the proper standard and the other (regional) grounds are a bit behind Dalton Park," Treadwell said. "The lights are not of a high enough standard for televised night matches."Cricket Australia General Manager of Public Affairs Peter Young said no decision had been made on where teams would be based."We're looking for major population centres where teams can represent the community. "We also want documented evidence of a passion for cricket, strong numbers in community cricket because that is an indicator."Senior, junior and in2Cricket registrations are climbing in the Illawarra, South Coast and Shoalhaven competitions.