WEATHER interference again to the Hamilton and District Cricket Association (HDCA) A grade competition last Saturday has seen what was meant to be a two-day match changed to a one-day game today.

Many would think there is little difference between the two formats, but each format possesses variations for the teams, especially in relation to the number of overs a bowler can deliver and where fielders can be placed.

In a long format match, a bowler can bowl unchanged from one end for the innings but is restricted to only nine overs maximum in the shorter format.

A captain can also have all his fielders on the fence in two-day contests but is restricted by the fielding circle in the short game.

Casterton District v St Andrew’s

TURF wicket cricket returns today, as Casterton District unveils its brand-new turf wicket at Island Park with a highly anticipated match against St Andrew’s.

With a new surface, no one knows has any idea how it will play, but from the looks of the pitch, it looks very good and should allow players to play their shots and the bowlers to gain movement, creating an even contest between bat and ball.

Both teams are champing at the bit to play after not playing for two weeks in a very interrupted season, which has seen six days play washed out of a possible nine.

The new surface should favour the bowlers from both teams, as it will take time to settle into a good batting surface, with a bowler that pitches the ball up expected to gain movement off the seam.

Rick Killey and Matt Killey will get assistance with the new ball for the home side, while Latham Wishart, Sam Burns and Dale Harris pose a huge threat for the visitors.

With Drews opening batsman, Brendan Huf, coming off an undefeated century in his last knock, his wicket is vital for the Maroons.

Kane Forbes is one player who can knock the Drews bowlers off their lengths if he gets settled in the middle, and if the ball does move around from the surface, an attacking mindset might just work.

Grampians v Pigeon Ponds

PIGEON Ponds must forget the last meeting between these two teams back in round two at Mitchell Park when Grampians routed the Pigeons for only 51 in less than 17 overs after posting a target of 235 in the first innings.

The Pumas will not have Lachie Field for the rest of the season with Premier Cricket back playing, but with skipper Will Collins and Carl Joyce named, there is no shortage of runs in their batting order.

Back in that early season match, Pigeon Ponds were without many A grade regulars who are expected to play today.

Grampians started its season with two bonus point victories in the first two games to open a gap at the top of the ladder on the rest of the competition and that early season form from seven weeks ago is hopefully still with the Pumas.

Both teams named near full strength teams last week, as the two teams search for a win in an important round seven clash.

With Grampians fielding a lower grade team today as well, there could be some other changes to the side announced last week.

The biggest question leading into today is will Pigeon Ponds be able to forget the display against the Pumas seven weeks ago or will they simply play their way out of that form?

Macarthur v College

THE gap between games hasn’t been as long for these two sides as it has for other teams in the competition, as both played two weeks ago but with different results.

Macarthur defeated Hamilton at Macarthur and with this game again being staged in Demons territory, the home side will be well versed with the conditions.

In saying that though, the Eagles did account for the Demons at the venue back in round two when Charles Murrie pasted the Macarthur attack five times over the fence to score 43 runs from only 27 balls.

Of course, College only won the match by six runs, as Michell Brilley replied with 41 of his own while Jack Wortley posted 39-not-out.

Brilley and Wortley have carried on with that form, making runs against Hamilton two weeks ago to help the Demons record a bonus point victory.

College ran into a Brendan Huf century in that round and were themselves defeated by a bonus point margin against St Andrew’s, as the batting order for the Eagles failed with only Hamish Bailey (44) making a meaningful contribution.

Bailey, Murrie and Heath Schmidt hold the aces for College with the bat, and if one or more of the trio can get settled in the middle, then the Eagles will post a good target, while Brilley, Jack Wortley and Kyle Smitten must reply in kind for the Demons.