Cricket ACT high performance manager Andrew Dawson
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A record-low three players from the Canberra first-grade competition were in the Comets line-up for this week's four-day Futures League match against Tasmania at Manuka Oval.
The remaining players were drawn from Sydney grade cricket – a mix of former Canberra players and those with a country NSW background.
This year, there has also been a memorandum of understanding signed between Cricket ACT and Cricket NSW to having joint ACT/Country NSW junior teams at national carnivals.
Concerns have been raised among Canberra clubs that there is too much of a focus on high performance at the detriment of the grassroots level.
Eastlake batsman Michael Spaseski told The Canberra Times this week the standard of the Canberra first-grade competition had declined as a result of Cricket Australia's guidelines on how Cricket ACT selects the Comets team.
Dawson
"The message from Cricket Australia is that if you're not in a first-class system by 23 or 24, then Australian cricket will severely question the investment into that player," Dawson said.
"Cricket Australia is a performance-driven environment, if it's participation or player development.
"Gone are the days where you'll have a Comets baggy cap and it'll become faded."
Cricket Australia high performance manager Pat Howard addressed Canberra club cricket officials at a meeting before the one-day international between Australia and South Africa at Manuka Oval last month.
Howard said the role of club cricket in the ACT was to act as feeder for the six state associations.
The Comets have provided a steady stream of first-class players since their demise from the national one-day competition, such as Jason Behrendorff, Ryan Carters and Nathan Lyon.
They
Comets captain Jono Dean, 30, hasn't played this season despite being signed by Big Bash League team the Adelaide Strikers.
Younger brother Blake, who played for the Sydney Thunder and has scored a mountain of runs at club level, has also been overlooked, as has Wests/UC all-rounder Ethan Bartlett.
"In the past, players have known their spot hasn't been under a lot of pressure," Dawson said.
"It's not just Canberra first-grade results – that's off-field, that's strength and conditioning, that's what you bring to the program culturally.
"It's a lot sharper in this new environment."
The departure of several quality players to the Sydney grade competition has also raised the ire of Canberra clubs.
Tuggeranong spinner Shane Devoy is the perfect example.
Dawson advised Devoy to move to Sydney, where he has joined Easts, so he could put himself in front of state and BBL selectors.
Devoy, 25, took nine wickets in an innings for the Comets in a Futures League game last year.
"People aren't going to take your Canberra stats as reason to pick you," Dawson said.
"You've got to be seen to be testing yourself every week.
"High performance sport isn't meant to be equal and everyone gets a fair turn."
In recent years, the ACT has withdrawn teams from both the national country championships and the Imparja Cup, a tournament for indigenous cricketers.
"The role of the male high-performance program is to produce first-class cricketers," Dawson said.
"Until that changes and it's redesignated as the seventh team, that's it.
"The mindset of someone playing five years for the Comets and racking up 50 games, Cricket Australia doesn't see that as an investment in the future."
