The Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championships is an annual event held in the beautiful rural cities of Mildura & Wentworth nestled on the banks of the majestic Murray & Darling Rivers, in north west Victoria & south western New South Wales.
The Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championships are conducted between the 27th and 30th December each year. Cricket teams from all over Australia come to the vibrant holiday mecca of Mildura to enjoy the summer weather, play cricket on first class facilities and vie for the largest prize money purse offered for a Carnival of this type in Australia.
Cricket Clubs will be competing for a massive $11,700.00 in prize money.
With all the attractions of Mildura & Wentworth Districts and this amount of prize money, the Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championships is establishing its niche on the cricket calendar.
How much does it cost?
Turf Competition –
- Men’s teams are required to pay $1200.00 to Sunraysia Willowfest Inc prior to the 17th of December 2019.
- Ladies teams are required to pay $1000.00 to Sunraysia Willowfest Inc prior to the 17th of December 2019.
This includes the following:
- Meet & greet Saturday 26th Willowfest HQ
- 5 x 4-piece Kookaburra white balls
- Men’s Game format: Includes 3 x 50 x 50 over games & 2 x T20 games on turf
- Ladies Game format: Includes 3 x 40 x 40 over games & 2 x T20 games on turf
- Umpire x 2 per game
- All games played on Turf (weather permitting)
- Scorebooks
- Willowfest Whack & Express competition
- Does not include presentation Dinner – These will be an additional $25 per person.
T20 turf wicket Competition – Teams are required to pay $750.00 to Sunraysia Willowfest Inc prior to the 17th of December 2019.
This includes the following:
- Meet & greet Saturday 26th Willowfest HQ
- 4 x 2 -piece Kookaburra white balls
- Game format: Includes 4 x T20 games for men’s turf
- All games played on turf wickets
- 1 umpire per game
- Scorebooks
- Willowfest Whack & Express competition
- Does not include presentation Dinner – These will be an additional $25 per person.
The Competition – Turf
The Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championships Turf Competition are conducted over four days. Teams are graded into divisions and compete in 3 one day 50 over per side matches and two T20 over matches on one day.
Prize money*
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
| Cup Grade | $2,500 | $1,500 | $500 | – |
| A Grade | $1,000 | $500 | $250 | – |
| B Grade | $700 | $250 | $150 | – |
| Women’s | $1000 | $500 | $250 | – |
* prize money may alter depending on the total Number of teams who enter this competition
The Competition – Turf Wicket – T20
The Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championships T20 Competition is conducted over four days. Teams are graded into divisions and compete in 4 x T20 matches – one game per day.
Prize money*
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
| T20 | $800 | $300 | 100 | – |
* prize money may alter depending on the total Number of teams who enter this competition
Tankard Dental Willowfest Whack: $500 – Men’s, $200 – Ladies
Each year the Towards Zero Willowfest goes in search of the biggest wacker in the country (as seen on Channel 9’s Cricket Show). Each Team of Whacker, tosser & catcher must wear their teams designated team shirt. The event is conducted at the Mildura Senior College in Deakin Ave, home of the Mildura Settlers Cricket Club.
To enter a batter, a tosser (or the batter may elect to toss for him/herself) and a catcher are required. Each “Whacker” is given 3 attempts in the preliminary round with the longest 3 “Whackers” going through to the finals. A bonus 10 metres is given to the “Whack” if the catcher catches it. In the finals each finalist is given 5 attempts with the longest “whack” being judged the winner taking home the prize money. The Tankard Dental Willowfest Whack is now on Day four – 30th December prior to the Presentation Dinner.
Willowfest Express: $500 – Men’s, $200 – Ladies
Each year the Towards Zero Willowfest goes in search of the fastest bowler in the competition. Each bowler must wear their teams designated team shirt and rubbers – No Spikes or bare feet are permitted, as the competition is conducted on a hard wicket wicket. The event is conducted at the Mildura Senior College in Deakin Ave, home of the Mildura Settlers Cricket Club.
To enter a bowler must enter on the night day 3. Each Bowler is given 3 deliveries in the preliminary round with the fastest 3 bowlers going through to the finals. In the finals each finalist is given 3 attempts. The fastest bowler being judged the winner taking home the prize money. The Willowfest Express is now on Day four – 30th December prior to the Presentation Dinner.
Team Requirements
A team may be compiled from an existing club, association or any group of eligible individuals. Each team must field 11 players and wear standard cricket whites or a Willowfest approved uniform each of the 4 days of play. Shorts must not be worn in the Turf competition, but can be worn in the T20 competition.
Each team requires a person to act as team manager and it is recommended that each team bring a competent scorer. We are also are now using Mycricket to do all our scoring on ipads/tablets (preferred) &/or iphones & android with internet connection. This allows for live scoring on the internet. The My cricket app can be downloaded here and must be done prior to the carnival: http://mycricket.cricket.com.au/pages/ContentLoad.aspx?id=37039r.htm
You will also be provided with an official Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championship scorebook.
Teams playing in the Turf competition must provide 1 new WHITE 4 piece ball for each game – 4, (will be supplied from the Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championships committee) We have an agreement with Kookaburra Sport to use the approved Kookaburra cricket ball
Teams playing in the T20 competition must provide 1 new RED 2 piece ball for each game – 4, (Purchased from the Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championships committee) We have an agreement with Kookaburra Sport to use the approved Kookaburra cricket ball
Team Managers & Umpires Meeting
Teams managers are required to register their team and attend a pre-championship briefing at 6:30pm on Boxing Day at the Mildura Settlers Cricket Club. Teams are required to supply, 1 set of regulation stumps(as specified by Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Club Championship) All playing and safety equipment. At this meeting, Teams will be provided a Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championship bag with scorebooks, handbooks, Balls as required, ( must be ordered prior to the 1st December) Notified of any changes to rules, ground allocation or draw changes. There will also be vouchers and tourist information also provided in each bag.
All teams participating in Cup grade must provide a representative to attend the press conference at 6.00pm at the Mildura Settlers Cricket Club on day 1,2, 3 & 4.
How do we enter our team?
To enter your team simply complete the attached registration form and forward your teams non refundable registration fee of $100. This will reserve a place for your team in this years Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championship (subject to availability).
Confirmation cannot be given until a deposit of $100.00 is received by the Administration Manager of the Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championships, on or prior to the 1st of December.
How do we find out what grade we are in?
Grading for the Towards Zero Willowfest Australian Cricket Championship will be completed by the 20th of December. Team managers will be advised of their team’s grade by the 21st of December.
Attractions
With its fantastic summer holiday weather, Mildura is a buzz between Boxing Day And New Years Day. There a wide range of attractions, such as wineries, golf courses, paddleboat cruises, restaurants, etc sporting events such as the harness racing meeting and a day/night cricket match and social events which revolve around the Mildura Workingman’s Club, the hub of the Championships and the Langtree Avenue Feast Street, the entertainment heart of the region.
With all these activities there is plenty to do, not only for the players but their families too.
In addition, the organizing Committee develop a social calendar to make the Championships enjoyable both on and off the field.
Further Tourism activities in Mildura can be found at the following link:
