Cricket ACT director of coaching and education, Aiden Blizzard, says he supports the decision to put the CA XI into the Matador Cup, but will continue to push the case for ACT Comets players to be involved.
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The CA XI have struggled to be competitive in their first season in the national one-day competition, suffering big losses against NSW, Victoria and WA before beating Tasmania.
Blizzard was the assistant coach for the CA XI for their first two matches and will also coach the Comets for their final match of the Sydney T20 competition on Sunday.
"We're in full support of CA and what they're doing," Blizzard said. "We would love to be involved in anything that we can moving forward, but the opportunity goes to priority players, that's the way they've gone and we're in full support of that.
"There's a significant gap between club cricket, first-class cricket and Futures League cricket, so every opportunity we get as the ACT Comets, we'll be pushing people forward.
"It's great that CA is showing that initiative to bridge that gap in experience to have guys ready to play first-class cricket."
The CA XI consists of up-and-coming players from around the country who have been identified as future state and international representatives.
"Being there first-hand, the experience they have gained with this opportunity has been significant," Blizzard said.
"If they don't get that opportunity, they are playing club cricket.
"They played against some international teams - NSW and Victoria at full-strength are just about Australia and Australia A packed into two teams.
"The opportunity they got was unbelievable for them."
The Comets have made just one change to their squad for their final T20 match against Western Suburbs at Pratten Park on Sunday, with Jono Dean coming in for Michael Barrington.
Blizzard will also play his second game in the ACT Premier Cricket competition, lining up on Saturday for ANU in their 50-over match against Queanbeyan at ANU North Oval.
The Sydney Thunder batsman was run out for 34 in last week's 42-run loss to Weston Creek Molonglo.
"I'm excited at the prospect of helping ANU, but it's also great first-hand to see some of the talent coming through," he said.
"I had ANU down here at Manuka Oval this week to train on turf.
"It's a little initiative to get all the clubs through Manuka Oval through the year to access world-class facilities."
ACT PREMIER CRICKET GALLOP CUP 50-OVER COMPETITION
Saturday: Tuggeranong v Eastlake at Chisholm. Ginninderra v Wests/UC at Kippax Oval. Weston Creek Molonglo v North Canberra Gungahlin at Stirling Oval. ANU v Queanbeyan at ANU North Oval. All games at 11am.
