Adelaide Strikers opener Jono Dean hasn't been picked for the ACT Comets in the Futures League this season. Photo: Paul Kane

Cricket ACT high performance manager Andrew Dawsonmakes no apologies for the ACT Comets narrowing their focus to produce more cricketers who can progress to first-class level.

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.

Advertisement

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.

Dawsonsaid the changes had reduced the opportunities for Canberra-based players in the second-tier Futures League, but was part of a broader objective designed to produce first-class cricketers.

"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.

See original here:

Cricket ACT defends Comets' first-class future focus