Big Bash a Big Blunder ?

[smac]

People love having a whinge. I went last night and it was awesome. People should stop complaining and just enjoy it. Its a game

More opinions on what this "game" is doing to one of our nations favourite sports than having a whinge.

So a game format that is only a few years old is responsible for there being a shortage of test batsmen? At the same time a T20 speciallist has made his test debut and made a ton in his second test?

T20 is not the devil many wish to make it out to be.

No, but many of us fear that the abbreviated revolution that is taking place already attracts more attention in the media than the most traditional form of the game ( Test / 4 day cricket ) and accordingly the hearts and minds of the next generation of cricketers.

I dont believe T20 is to blame for our current drop in national cricketing standards but I dont think it is going to help our causes going forward.

I think the current crop of cricketers saying no to BBL prove otherwise.

[Dutchy]

It is about growing the comp. Limiting to 6 states wouldn't allow this.

Which in turn spreads the talent too thin (not unlike grade cricket in Adelaide!), hence superannuation paydays for ageing cricketers.

And there are bigger plans for the BBL to go to 10 or even 12 teams.

I like T20 at domestic level, but the BBL and 8 teams so far hasnt produced the quality cricket from the past 2 years.

Ill reserve my judgement until the end of the BBL but I think it needs to go back to state v state at this early stage.

[Hondo]

If you limit it to 6 teams you will have Aussie players missing out as the imports and veterans take their spots. I understand why the traditionalists like the 6 team concept because it is all we have known but if we are to grow the BBL to rival the IPL we have to break the seal on > 6 teams. I also don't mind fringe state players getting an opportunity via this concept.

23,500 to a domestic cricket match is unheard of before 20-20 started.

Previously all we head was levels of representative cricket. A lower level really only existed to feed the next level. Fans only went to games at the highest level and we all had to hope the international cricket paid the bills to keep the lower levels going. Now we have a cash cow at the domestic level. Players who in the past were paid a pittance and played in front of 200 people can now earn a living as a domestic cricketer and play in front of tens of thousands of people. It keeps them in the game and motivates the kids to pick up a bat and ball. Ultimately our fortunes in International Cricket will be somewhat dependent on participation rates with the kids and bums on seats at games.

I'd rather 20,000 kids playing the game at school through interest in 20-20 regardless of what impact it might have on their technique (don't all kids slog?) than 2,000 technical specialists reading Wisden, ironing their white shirts and working on classical cricket techniques. Shane Warne V2 could be one of the other 18,000.

There's too much negativity about this so far IMO. 20-20 is not THAT different to 50 over cricket that we all seemed to like.

[Ecky]

It is about growing the comp. Limiting to 6 states wouldn't allow this.

But unfortunately we don't have any more than 6 states!
Having 2 teams from Melbourne and Sydney is a bit like the AFL splitting Collingwood up into "Collingwood North" and "Collingwood South", changing their colours and some players around, and then still expecting just as many people to attend each of the new artificial teams.
I don't think it was a coincidence that the most disappointing crowds of the first week were in Melbourne and Sydney.
At least here, the team still looks something like the Redbacks, despite the illogical change of colours.

[test]

It is about growing the comp. Limiting to 6 states wouldn't allow this.

But unfortunately we don't have any more than 6 states!
Having 2 teams from Melbourne and Sydney is a bit like the AFL splitting Collingwood up into "Collingwood North" and "Collingwood South", changing their colours and some players around, and then still expecting just as many people to attend each of the new artificial teams.
I don't think it was a coincidence that the most disappointing crowds of the first week were in Melbourne and Sydney.
At least here, the team still looks something like the Redbacks, despite the illogical change of colours.

It would of been better coming up with some different town based names then having Melbourne x 2 and Sydney x 2. If we get a second team down the track will it be Adelaide as well?

[Mr Beefy]

It is about growing the comp. Limiting to 6 states wouldn't allow this.

But unfortunately we don't have any more than 6 states!
Having 2 teams from Melbourne and Sydney is a bit like the AFL splitting Collingwood up into "Collingwood North" and "Collingwood South", changing their colours and some players around, and then still expecting just as many people to attend each of the new artificial teams.
I don't think it was a coincidence that the most disappointing crowds of the first week were in Melbourne and Sydney.
At least here, the team still looks something like the Redbacks, despite the illogical change of colours.

It would of been better coming up with some different town based names then having Melbourne x 2 and Sydney x 2. If we get a second team down the track will it be Adelaide as well?

Call it Port Adelaide Power and then Adelaide can be the team for all South Aussies and Power can just be the other team.

[topsywaldron]

Nobody has been going to the Shield for years. A completely irrelevant arguement that misses the point by miles. The Shield is there to prepare Test Cricketers. The Shield is there to play test cricketers back into form. I'm twiddling my thumbs because there is teeball on this weekend instead of the deciding test of the Australia v New Zealand series. It's not the glorious past that concerns me but the uncertain future. It's not whinging either, it's called having an opinion. If anyone can say anything more intelligent than 'get with the times' or 'money' (for a year or two anyway) I'll be glad to have my mind put at ease.

You and us, have got nothing. Not until Boxing Day.

regards,

REB

What about the fact you could be wrong?

It must be nice to be right all the time.

CA have taken a massive gamble with this competition, we can only hope the millions they've spent on it pay off otherwise cricket in Australia will be paying for their mistake for a generation.

That they would run a competition effectively in competition with themselves, running the T20 up against the Boxing Day test, speaks volumes for how wacky the decision making process is.

Let's hope they get it right. Early signs aren't good though.

[CoverKing]

Early signs are good IMO. TV ratings were huge. Every chance of a big pay packet next year for the TV rights

[Booney]

Of course TV ratings are huge....people who pay for Foxtel are going to watch it!!

The vast majority of Foxtel subscribers would be based around the sport packages anyway, of course it is going to "rate" well.

[CoverKing]

Of course TV ratings are huge....people who pay for Foxtel are going to watch it!!

The vast majority of Foxtel subscribers would be based around the sport packages anyway, of course it is going to "rate" well.

I'm saying, would not surprise me next if it is on the FTA next year

[Hondo]

We could have dual TV rights like they do with the AFL. Foxtel get all the games live but Channell 9 (say) get the prime Friday night spot, for example.

We should not be underestimating the power of the big TV ratings so far.

[CoverKing]

We could have dual TV rights like they do with the AFL. Foxtel get all the games live but Channell 9 (say) get the prime Friday night spot, for example.

We should not be underestimating the power of the big TV ratings so far.

My point exactly

[smac]

Nobody has been going to the Shield for years. A completely irrelevant arguement that misses the point by miles. The Shield is there to prepare Test Cricketers. The Shield is there to play test cricketers back into form. I'm twiddling my thumbs because there is teeball on this weekend instead of the deciding test of the Australia v New Zealand series. It's not the glorious past that concerns me but the uncertain future. It's not whinging either, it's called having an opinion. If anyone can say anything more intelligent than 'get with the times' or 'money' (for a year or two anyway) I'll be glad to have my mind put at ease.

You and us, have got nothing. Not until Boxing Day.

regards,

REB

What about the fact you could be wrong?

It must be nice to be right all the time.

CA have taken a massive gamble with this competition, we can only hope the millions they've spent on it pay off otherwise cricket in Australia will be paying for their mistake for a generation.

That they would run a competition effectively in competition with themselves, running the T20 up against the Boxing Day test, speaks volumes for how wacky the decision making process is.

Let's hope they get it right. Early signs aren't good though.

Asking someone else if they could be wrong isn't saying I am right. If things upset you, I usually believe they're close to right though.

[Brucetiki]

Looks like the Brisbane crowd have embraced the Heat. The Bulls got little more than Ryobi Cup crowds for their T20 matches yet the Heat have a massive crowd first up.

[Jim05]

Looks like the Brisbane crowd have embraced the Heat. The Bulls got little more than Ryobi Cup crowds for their T20 matches yet the Heat have a massive crowd first up.

After they realise how shite the Heat are the numbers will drop off. Massive frontrunners are the banana benders

[CoverKing]

Highest t20 crowd in Australian domestic history.
29,241

[Jim05]

Highest t20 crowd in Australian domestic history.
29,241

Reckon half came for Warne and Hayden

[CoverKing]

Highest t20 crowd in Australian domestic history.
29,241

Reckon half came for Warne and Hayden

Still attended though

[Hondo]

I saw the highlights on TV and I couldn't believe the size of the crowd ... for any game let alone a domestic game. It's tough to argue against that sort of crowd on a Tuesday night 5 days before christmas.

I accept the point though that the bigger crowds seem to be coming in the cities where there is only one team (so far).

[dedja]

Highest t20 crowd in Australian domestic history.
29,241

Reckon half came for Warne and Hayden

the other half for Liz ...