The 2001 Austrian fixture List promises a roller-coaster season with more matches planned than ever before.

The Open League, played from the end of April to the first weekend in September, sees a record ten teams taking part, including clubs from neighbouring Slovenia and Croatia. Newcomers, St Poelten C.C., will be playing friendlies this year in preparation for them joining next year's Open League. The Open League matches have been brought into line with the ECC One Day playing conditions and will be contested over 50 overs with restrictive circles in place for the first 15 overs.

The Knockout Austrian Trophy will again feature Prague C.C. as well as the Open League participants.

Apart from visits to Austria by a youth team from Germany, Trentino C.C. from Italy and the Australian Crusaders from Melbourne, the highlight of the summer is undoubtably the ECC Trophy.

This qualifier for the European Championships 2002 in Ireland will be played at Austrian grounds in Seebarn and Velden. Ten European Affiliates will take part in the eight-day tournament in August.

Seebarn C.G. has been expanded for this purpose and a second ground, which had to be reseeded after the drought of 2000, will be ready for the tournament. The inaugural match on Seebarn 2 will coincide with the European Cricket Day on May 20th. Austria will be hoping that it reaches the Final of the ECC Trophy in order to qualify for the European Championships. A new ground is also being planned in Vienna by Concordia C.C. thus bringing the number of Austrian cricket grounds to four in total.

Austria's U15 and U17 youth teams will be participating in ECC youth tournaments in Berlin and Corfu, following on from their success at the inaugural tournament in Gibraltar last year.

In order to cope with the increased administrative burden brought on by so much cricket this year, an Austrian Umpires and Scorers Association has been founded. The main responsibilities will include nominating umpires for league and international matches, as well as providing training courses and seminars.

All in all, Austrian cricket shows great ambition and with all clubs eager to lift the Open League and Trophy this year, competition will be as fierce as ever!.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd