Australia's domestic cricket landscape is on the cusp of a major change which will reward performance over potential and pave the way for the next Michael Hussey to put his name up in lights.
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The Futures League has been scrapped in favour of a genuine state second XI competition in a bid to reward the best players available with a chance to press their claims for a first class call-up.
It means weight of runs and wickets in Cricket ACT's premier grade competition could see a greater presence of Canberra-based players in the ACT/NSW Country Comets side.
The state second XI competition was rebranded as the Futures League in 2009-10 when state teams were restricted to fielding no more than three players over the age of 23.
That number would swell to six for the 2011-12 season, and it has since become a breeding ground tailored towards rising stars.
But now the pathway has been reopened for the overage players who may otherwise have struggled to claim a spot.
"Think of Mike Hussey, he is probably a classic example," Cricket ACT high performance manager Olivia Thornton said.
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"He didn't make his international debut until he was about 30. It just opens up the door to player's performance being front and centre as opposed to potential at a certain age.
"Regardless of how old you are, if you're good enough to be playing at that level, it gives you the ability to be able to do that. It's a genuine second XI competition."
It is understood the Kyle Piper-led Comets will open their campaign on home soil against Tasmania on October 7.
A Twenty20 competition in South Australia will be wedged in the middle of the six-round second XI competition, which will be rounded out by a clash with South Australia in Canberra from March 9.
"The whole idea of it is we want the best crop of players available from ACT/NSW Country and all of the other states to be playing in that competition rather than being restricted by age," Cricket ACT chief executive James Allsopp said.
"It's a really good move for the game we'll be able to keep players that are interested and are playing well enough into their twenties and even their thirties the opportunity to play second XI and impress.
"Hopefully they would be able to move on and play first class cricket if they're good enough despite what age they are."
The ACT has been booted out of the Sydney Twenty20 Cup alongside Central Coast, Greater Illawarra and Newcastle.
It makes the return of a standalone ACT side to the Australian country cricket championships even more important.
"We're back in the Australian country championships for the first time since 2013 I believe, so that's a big one for us this year," Thornton said.
"Same for our under 15s as well, which is standalone for the first time in a long period of time as well. There's lots happening on the Cricket ACT landscape this year."
Not least of which is a six-year deal with Cricket Australia and the ACT government to host international and domestic matches in Canberra every summer.
The three parties are edging closer to a deal which will allow Cricket ACT to build on its biggest summer in history.