Canberra grade cricketers and club presidents are getting increasingly frustrated at the lack of local representation in the ACT Comets and the impact it is having on the club competition.
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A record-low three players from the Canberra first-grade competition represented the Comets in their most recent match in the Futures League.
The rest of the team were players who had been developed through the Cricket ACT system but who now play in Sydney, along with others from the Sydney first-grade competition who were originally from country NSW.
It is part of an arrangement between Cricket ACT and Cricket NSW to increase the standard of the Comets, while also providing a pathway for players from country NSW.
Cricket ACT has also advised certain players, such as spinner Shane Devoy, to leave the Canberra competition and join a Sydney club if they want to seek higher honours.
A player from the Canberra competition, who declined to be named, told The Canberra Times grade cricket must survive otherwise the Comets would be in jeopardy.
"There's a lot of concern among club cricketers, who are saying, 'I don't know anyone in that side, so why would I go for them?' " the player said.
"Canberra is proud of its sport, why would people turn out to the Comets when they're all Sydney players?
"I understand cricket's desire to have a development program, but they've got to keep Canberra grade cricket's interest at heart as well.
"Because if grade cricket in Canberra dies, then the Comets will as well."
Eastlake captain Michael Spaseski told The Canberra Times last month that he believed the changes had resulted in the standard of the club competition declining.
He also said Comets selectors did not look at performances in Canberra club cricket as closely as they used to.
The Canberra first-grade competition arguably had its strongest period when the Comets were in the national one-day competition between 1997 and 1998 and 1999-2000.
Fringe players from across the country played in Canberra to push their claims to be a part of the Comets program.
"The idea for me would be the players from Sydney in the Comets team should be down here playing in the Canberra competition," the Canberra player said.
"It's a Canberra team.
"I'm more than happy for these blokes to have the opportunity, but they should be playing in the grade competition.
"These players who are playing with the Comets aren't in the NSW program and they're getting the exposure without having to do anything.
"That's the frustration among the guys [in Canberra]."
Cricket ACT is aiming for re-entry into the one-day competition as part of a combined NSW Country/ACT team.
A memorandum of understanding between the two bodies is currently under consideration by the Cricket ACT board.
There already is agreement at the junior level, with the combined ACT/NSW Country team finishing second at last week's under-17 national titles.
