Five teams are registered for the senior division for the 11 week 40-over competition which wraps up before the Christmas race meeting.

Moree and District Cricket Association spokesman Mike Montgomery said the comp always did it tough in the lead up to Christmas with the local harvest taking priority over cricket so the teams often struggled to keep numbers up.

However, things improve after Christmas, with seven teams already signed up for the 20-20 competition and more teams might sign up yet.

“That’s one of the vagaries of playing cricket in Moree. Players have to earn a living,’’ Mr Montgomery said.

 “However, we’re looking forward to a good strong competition this season.

“Council, weather permitting, will be digging up the old turf pitch at Harborne Oval and replace it with a new pitch so it won’t be available until February or March next year.

“So the season will be on synthetic pitches this year but the new pitch will be a fantastic asset for the 2017-2018 season.,’’ he said.

The synthetic ovals are also at  Harborne Oval. The 12 unior teams will use three pitches on the Friday night and Saturday night and the seniors will need only two in the afternoon, with daylight savings starting this weekend.

Mr Montgomery said players to watch this year included last year’s stars Nathan and Chris Holland, Darryl Smith and Ben Day.

“Ben’s brother is Mosman first grade captain – and a pale imitation of Ben,” he said in what is possibly the first sledge of the season.

“We’re looking forward to the performances of these players this season and to defending our titles.”

Last season the Moree rep team won the MA Connolly Cup and the T2Mo Cup.

Mr Montgomery said he was busy writing sponsorship applications to local businesses to try to get some new shirts for the Colts team.

He was asking a couple of businesses in town to support the young players, most of whom were aged 13 to 16. 

All players need to register on the mycricket.cricket.com.au website.

If players want to play but they don’t have a team, club official Nick Bettington will assist.

Go to the cricket website for contact details. 

The five senior teams are: