Dr Renshaw, a senior lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology, worked in conjunction with Professor Damian Farrow from Victoria University during the initial research phase of the nationwide Junior Formats Pilot - the results of which were used to make significant changes to junior cricket.

From 2017-18 local cricket associations around Australia will commence rolling out the new junior formats, meaning under-11s (now known as Stage 1) will field seven players in a team; play on a 16-metre pitch to cut down on wides and no balls; have a shorter boundary and each player will bat and bowl.

Those in the under-13s (Stage 2) will play in teams of nine; use an 18-metre pitch, have a shorter boundary and every player bats and bowls. According to Dr Renshaw the junior formats provide children with the opportunity to perform at the best of their abilities.

"The formats have been designed based on evidence of what kids are capable of doing," he said. "The games are going to be matched to what their abilities are, so that means we can make the [junior] game look more like the adult game.

"There's a false idea we need to play the so called 'proper game' - presuming that by playing on the big field, with the full-sized pitch, you get the proper game ??? but, it isn't. The proper game is one that fits the size and the abilities of the kids in terms of their physical capacities.

"We can see from the data [taken during last summer's Pilot that as a result of the junior formats] there's more vertical bat shots. The children can hit down the ground and potentially hit a four or a six straight ??? it changes the game."

Dr Renshaw recalled Matthew's experiences as a young leg-spinner to emphasise the reasons why bowlers will benefit from the change in the length of the pitch.

"The little spin bowler can't easily reach [the other end of the adult-sized] 20.1 metre pitch," he said. "I remember Matthew having to bowl into a headwind in New Zealand when he was a 10-year-old who bowled leg-spin ??? he couldn't reach the other end.

"However, put him on a 16-metre pitch and he was fine; he could spin it, turn it and have the right shape on the ball."

Northern Territory Cricket, whose season runs during the top end's dry season from April to September, has 34 teams playing under the Stage 1 and 2 junior formats, and officials have lauded the improvements they've seen in their players.

"People have described it as the best standard of cricket they've seen from players in the Stage 1 and 2 age ranges in a very long time," said Mitch Farnell, Northern Territory Cricket's Game and Market Development Manager.

New Junior Formats

STAGE 1 (Under 10/11)

Time: 120 mins

Overs per team: Max 20

Pitch Length: 16m

No. of Players: 7

Boundary Maximum: 40m

Ball Size: Modified

STAGE 2 (Under 12/13)

Time: 120 or 180 mins

Overs per team: T20 or max 30

Pitch Length: 18m

No. of Players: 9

Boundary Maximum: 45m

Ball Size: 142g

Daniel Lane is a Cricket Australia (One Team) contractor