New year, same old story.
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Another week of cricket has been decimated by rain, with COVID also adding another curve ball to the mix, just for good measure.
Saturday was meant to mark the return of the local cricket season and with the new year upon us, there were hopes the sun would shine throughout the second half of the summer.
Instead the mass cancellations that were seen before Christmas are back, with all Cricket Illawarra first-grade matches abandoned.
South Coast Cricket are more optimistic, players and officials hoping to get on for some Twenty20 action.
A short-form double-header is planned for Saturday, teams to play two Twenty20 matches throughout the day.
While the morning games are in grave doubt, the hope is the afternoon slate will proceed if the rain stops.
"There's quite a bit of water out there," Albion Park's Matt Burns said. "I'm waiting to see if the rain stops. I'm fairly certain the morning game will be off.
"We'll wait to see how things go for the afternoon game. It's not until 3, but there is a lot of water on the ground.
"It's disappointing. We had a couple of people making their first grade debut on Saturday, it looks like they won't be able to do that."
Should games proceed, Tom (Scout) Willoughby Oval will see Shellharbour face Kiama and Kookas.
At Keith Grey Oval, Albion Park will host Oak Flats and Lake Illawarra.
The Rail will play Lake Illawarra and Kiama at Croome Cricket Oval.
Albion Park will likely be undermanned, but Burns isn't giving up hope of an upset victory over the Lakers.
"We just want to take the fight to Lake Illawarra. It's a tough team but I don't want to see anyone get overawed.
"In wet conditions, anything can happen. We can cause an upset."
With La Nina hitting Australia this summer, the rain is likely to continue.
That's not what frustrated cricketers want to hear.
"We're keen to get the season started," Burns said. "It seems weird to say that in January.
"We just want to get out there and build some momentum."
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Cameron Mee
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
