In the early years of Melbourne Country Cricket Week interest was so high teams had be reduced by grouping neighbouring associations.
In 1923-24 season in the third year of the series a total of 73 associations registered to compete in Melbourne Country Week.
Because of a limited number of grounds available the Victorian Cricket Association’s pennant committee was then given the task of reducing the number of teams to 48.
In the annual series restarting next Monday after two years in recess because of COVID-19 there are only 18 associations represented in two divisions — 10 in Provincial and eight Division 1.
Many of the teams and associations which contested the 1923-24 series and are listed below have been long gone: Beechworth (including Ovens Valley, Wodonga and Yackandandah), Boolara-Mirboo, Bacchus Marsh (including Gisborne and Molesworth), Bendigo, Bairnsdale, Benalla (including Euroa), Bellarine and Queenscliff, Ballarat, Birchip (including Woomelang and Culgoa), Bunyip (including Pakenham), Corangamite, Colac, Casterton, Castlemaine, Dunmunkle, Donald, Dandenong and Berwick (including Springvale), Daylesford, Echuca, Geelong, Gippsland West, Gippsland South (including Alberton), Gippsland North, Hamilton, Lilydale and Healesville, Lockington (including Kamarooka and Elmore), Kyabram, Kerang, Kowree, Maryborough (including Carisbrook), Mildura, Nathalia, Ouyen, Pyrenees (including Ararat), Rutherglen-Wangaratta, Peninsula (including Northern and Southern Peninsula), Seymour (including Yea and Yarck and Wallan), Shepparton, Swan Hill (including Nyah and Piangil), St Arnaud, Stawell, Traralgon, Tungamah (formerly St James and Yarrawonga), Warrnambool (including Panmure), Wimmera, Wonthaggi-Bass Valley, Waranga, Yallourn.
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