The South Australian Cricket Association today launched a program called 'Cricket in the Community: a Social Vision' to create stronger partnerships between the State's 25,000 cricketers and local government.

SACA's State Manager of Cricket and Redbacks Coach Greg Chappell launched the campaign today, saying that cricket was undergoing phenomenal growth, especially at junior level.

'We've seen the number of junior players increase by about 60% in the past seven years. Whole new clubs and associations are being formed every season', Greg said.

'Two things come out of that. One is that there's increasing pressure on the need for facilities; and the other is that cricket has a grass-roots social infrastructure which has the potential to be a valuable asset for local government.

'The program we are launching today aims at strengthening the understanding between cricket and councils. We both have a lot to learn about each other and we can both benefit from that understanding.

'Cricket has an increasing need for facilities; and in return, we can offer local government a way to connect with the local community.

'For example, Councils are, in effect, sponsors of cricket but they rarely celebrate that sponsorship or use it to reach the local people.

'The campaign SACA is launching today will operate at two levels:

• 'The Association itself will take a leading role by seeking to develop our relationship with the Local Government Association and the Local Government Manager's Association. We want to inform them of the full impact of cricket, not just as a sport but as an important part of the social and community fabric. But we also want to learn more about Local Government, so this will be a two-way process.

• 'At a Club level, we have prepared a strategy and an action kit for the Grade Clubs to follow, which will assist them in building and developing partnerships with Councils. This is practical and has outcomes which we believe will benefit both parties. SACA will give active support to clubs in pursuing these activities throughout the coming season, and will formally review the outcomes after the finals.

'Cricket has an important community and social role. Our program is aimed firstly at ensuring Councils have a full understanding of the depth and breadth of cricket in the community. The second phase involves working with Councils to develop partnership arrangements which are mutually beneficial to both cricket and local government, based on commonalities of purpose and service to the community.

'Cricket is more than a great game - it's a social and community resource which touches hundreds of thousands of South Australians at many different levels. Our strategy in working more closely with local government on a mutual basis has the full support of the Australian Cricket Board and will help ensure a positive future for the game in this State'.

© 2002 South Australian Cricket Association

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.