THE Merton Cricket Club has succeeded in their bid to join the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association this season.

The club will join the C grade competition after years of playing in the Benalla and Seymour cricket associations.

After going into recess for the past two seasons, the club decided it was the right time to apply to join the WDCA.

WDCA president Greg Hoysted said after a club vote it was decided their bid would be successful.

"We asked clubs to email their responses in about the Merton Cricket Club joining the league and after a two thirds majority vote they were accepted into the C grade competition," Hoysted said.

"They came out of the Benalla competition when it ended and then played a couple of seasons in Seymour but the players decided they'd prefer to play this way.

"The club was in recess and some of their players joined Delatite but now that Delatite's numbers a looking good the Merton guys reformed their club and applied to come in."

The WDCA can now finalise fixtures for the upcoming season but cannot decide on dates as regional Victoria remains in lockdown.

"We can now finalise draws now that we know who's in what section," Hoysted said.

"We just need to wait on dates while the state remains in lockdown.

"Current advice from Cricket Victoria means clubs can't train but they've all indicated they need time to get ready before playing so the season will start a few weeks after training can resume.

"If an individual wants to go down to the nets and bowl at stumps or a dad wants to throw his kid balls that's okay but there can't be any club training yet."

The WDCA is also looking to develop the women's game and is on the lookout for a new coach as the girls take on the Goulburn Murray Cricket Open Girls' competition.

If you are interested in coaching the team, call Andrea Belci on 0429 917 218.