Argentina faces one of the most important seasons in its history. With a remarkably busy domestic programme, and further development iniatives continuing, cricket keeps on growing on many fronts.

The season is principally split into two halves, the first half from mid-October to Christmas, and the second half from February to early-April.

The First Division Championship is played throughout the season and decided in March. Similarly, the Robin Stuart Shield is played throughout, but this competition has a final, whereas the First Division is played purely on a league basis.

Lower divisions have seperate competitions. Before Christmas there is the Second Division Championship, and after the Saturday Championship. New introductions this season will be a Third Division Championship, wrapped up before Christmas, and an U15 Junior League, played throughout.

A brand new competition is the Dowson Cup, for Club 2nd XI's and 2nd Division Clubs, which has a final at the end of the season.

In the quiet January period, the Max Challenge Cup will be played.

Tours are important part of a calendar, and this is a particularly busy one.

The Australian Emus U15's visit in November, and from February through April, the ACA hosts the Buckingham Cavaliers, Tauranga Grasshoppers, Old Wellingtonians and Ulster Grasshoppers.

An undoubted highlight of the season will be the MCC visit, in February and March, which includes three one-day matches and one three-day match against Argentina.

The National Team also has the three match series against the International XI as part of their ICC Trophy preparation.

Argentina "A" makes their first-ever appearance this season, taking part in the 4th South American Championship, to be held in Buenos Aires in December.

Other participating teams are Brazil, Chile, Guyana Masters, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

Argentina Masters, an over-35 team, will be formed for a series of matches during the season.

The Argentina U19 squad have some serious preparation to do ahead of next years Americas Championship as well.

There are no outgoing tours this summer, although it is planned to send junior development sides to Chile and Uruguay respectively.

So as Argentina continues to strive onwards in their efforts to raise the profile, numbers and standards of the game, so the primary business and pleasure of simply playing on beautiful grounds in glorious sunshine is merely weeks away.

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