Cricket administrators are bracing themselves for a difficult decision come October should winter sports bleed into the summer season to make up for a delayed start to the season.
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Most winter sports have pushed back their earliest resumption dates to the end of May, but it's increasingly looking likely it will need to be pushed back again, with governments expected to extend lockdown expiry dates.
In addition to later start dates, rugby league and union clubs - among others - will need pre-season training before being able to take to the field.
That means some competitions might not begin before July, with shortened seasons potentially meaning finals may be held as late as October or November.
While Mitchell Cricket Council president Mark Frecklington said discussions about how to potentially deal with the likely crossover haven't been held yet, it's something they would be prepared for.
He said no options were off the table in these "unusual times", but his preference would be to run the competition as normal.
"We'd prefer not to start late but we'll have to see what's happening down the track," Frecklington said.
"I guess we'd prefer to play a full season, we're already limited to six months because of the weather and it's the only window we can play it in."
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Wade Park is the home of rugby league in Orange as well as the city's premier cricket venue, while George Park is used for Australian rules in winter months in Bathurst.
Frecklington, who is also the Orange District Cricket Association president, said grounds normally have three to four weeks between the end of winter season and the start of summer season.
Wade Park and the ovals at Jack Brabham would likely be the only turf grounds in Orange to clash with winter seasons, while very few ovals with turf wickets in Bathurst clash with winter sports.
Frecklington said it was hard to make a call on what would happen with grounds from so far out, and while he would want a full season for all sides - especially after finals were cut short in all grades - he said the MCC would take it as it comes.
Committees have been unable to sit with restrictions on non-essential gatherings so Frecklington said no discussions had been held about how cricket would approach potential season start dates, but suggested those conversations would be held when more information was available.
