The Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association (VSDCA) is a turf cricket competition based in Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

, Australia. There are 28 clubs each fielding four teams(one per grade)plus an under 15 (formerly under 14) team in the annual R.M. Hatch shield competition which is regarded as the premier competition for the future of Victorian cricket. There are 4 divisions (North South East West). In first and second grade these divisions rotate annually to ensure every club plays each other at least once every 3 years. In third and fourth division these do not change and the 2 'leagues' are South-East and North-West.

Clubs

• Altona Cricket Club
• Balwyn Cricket Club
• Bayswater Cricket Club
• Box Hill Cricket Club
• Brighton Cricket Club
• Broadmeadows Cricket Club
• Brunswick Cricket Club
• Bundoora Old Paradians Cricket Club
• Caulfield Cricket Club
• Coburg Cricket Club
• Croydon Cricket Club
• Elsternwick Cricket Club
• Endeavour Hills Cricket Club
• Ivanhoe Cricket Club
• Kew Cricket Club
• Kingston Saints Cricket Club
• Malvern Cricket Club
• Melton Cricket Club
• Moorabbin Cricket Club
• Mount Waverley Cricket Club
• Noble Park Cricket Club
• Oakleigh Cricket Club
• Ormond Cricket Club
• Preston Cricket Club
• Sunshine Cricket Club
• Werribee Cricket Club
• Williamstown Cricket Club
• Yarraville Cricket Club

These clubs also have other teams asides from the open age VSDCA and hatch shield. All clubs run juniors programs. Many also have other open age teams in local competitions (some even play against each other in these competitions as well as the VSDCA), women's teams and run children's programs such as the Milo "Have a Go!" program.

All clubs must provide 2 turf wickets(the club's home ground is usually of higher standard and is used for first and second grade with occasional fixture problems leading to third or fourth grade game. The second ground is usually of lower standard and will rarely have a bar or facilities near the 'home ground' some clubs (such as Altona and Kew) grounds are next to each other) with changing areas for players and umpires as well as areas for the players to park cars and shower.

2006/2007 season

No new clubs joined in 06/07

Williamstown beat Box Hill in the "inter-league/division" championship game (game between the 2 winners of the first grade in each league) 209 d 146

Their league scores where
1st XI North / East

Box Hill 8 cc / 255 d Ivanhoe 9 / 193

1st XI South / West

Williamstown 4 / 219 d Altona 8 cc / 216

In other grades winners were:
2nd XI North / East

Oakleigh 9 cc / 156 d Box Hill 146

2nd X1 South / West

Caulfield 2 / 87 d Moorabbin 83

3rd XI South / East

Malvern 6 / 165 d Noble Park 9 cc / 162

3rd XI North / West

Broadmeadows 9 cc / 163 d Balwyn 101

4th XI South / East

Malvern 9 / 152 d Mt Waverley 151

4th XI North / West

Coburg 6 / 156 d Melton 9 / 149

2007/2008 season

No new clubs joined the league

This marks 100 seasons of VSDCA cricket with many celebrations planned to celebrate this enormous milestone

Connections to other Associations

Due to its recognition as being Victoria's second highest for of club cricket and it control of the Hatch Shield, which is seen as Victoria's premier under 15 tournament, the league is closely linked with other associations. Due to its high level of competitiveness it is the most common breeding ground for district players. Also too feed hatch sides, clubs will often draw from their local associations (such as Broadmedows, Coburg and Brunswick attracting players from the North West Cricket Association). Also due to it lacking any other form of junior competition its clubs are required to form alliances with other associations to ensure they are able to run a junior program.

Hatch Shield

Formerly an under 14 competition in the 2005/2006 season it became an under 15's in a Cricket Victoria re-structure. For many aspiring young Victorian cricketers this is seen as an important milestone and often marks a player's first matches on professionally prepared turf wickets. Games are 50 overs a side one day matches. Professionalism runs high in these teams as clubs aim to secure players for following seasons if they are not already playing seniors with that club. Many district clubs also watch these games with interest in their quest to secure young talent. The matches are played in mid-January. This can lead to games being played in extreme temperatures which is dangerous to both players and spectators. In the 2006/2007 Box Hill defeated Broadmeadows in the final. Fixtures follow a similar format to that of the senior competition with the exception there are 4 individual divisions with the top team of each playing another team that finished top of its division in a semi final before the two winners of those games go on to play in the grand final.