Newcastle District Cricket Association chairman Paul Marjoribanks admits "we're going to have to be agile".
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Eighteen months on from the NDCA finals series being completely cancelled because of the initial COVID-19 outbreak, the global pandemic looks set to impact the summer competition once more.
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The state's ongoing coronavirus lockdown means the start of the 2021-2022 season, scheduled for early next month, remains up in the air.
Current public health orders are in place until midnight on Friday, however, with new cases still emerging across the Hunter region it seems likely this will be extended by the NSW government.
If longer stay-at-home instructions are announced this week, the next timeframe is key to determining when play may get underway.
But with restrictions having already affected the bulk of winter sporting codes over recent months, NDCA officials are now working on a range of scenarios for the upcoming cricket season.
"We're going to have to be agile," Marjoribanks said.
"We're working on a few scenarios and what may happen with a delayed start or if play gets interrupted later down the track.
"The best-case-scenario, and our hope, is that we start on time, but in a worst-case-scenario we might not get on until December."
Men's first grade is slated to begin on Saturday, October 9.
The opening five rounds are one-dayers (40 overs) followed by the Tom Locker Cup final.
This section of the competition appears in the most danger and if it doesn't go ahead as scheduled - may be played with reduced games, awarded draws, moved to later in the campaign or scrapped all together.
Alternatively, the regular season could become entirely two-day or one-day matches, depending on when lockdown lifts.
"There's nothing definite at this stage," he said.
The women's T20 league is supposed to start on Wednesday, October 6.
Newcastle have yet to announce a senior representative squad.
The men's XI would be vying for a third straight title at the NSW Country Championships, with preliminary rounds planned for the Central Coast from November 12 to 14.
Plan B Regional Bash T20 pool games for last season's finalists Lake Mac Attack, Newcastle Blasters, renamed Hunter Thoroughbreds and Central Coast Rush were originally in the calendar on October 24 and 31.
Meanwhile, re-elected Marjoribanks was awarded life membership at the recent NDCA annual general meeting.
Long-serving secretary Royce McCormack stepped down after two decades in the role.
John Bailey becomes the competition administrator.
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