Big Bash Restructure 2011/12 - A Massive Mistake?!

[Not Scared]

With the success of the current Big Bash I wondered what people's thoughts were on the proposed IPL Style restructure of it in 2011/12. I reckon it will be a massive mistake if it goes ahead, which sounds very likely. Here is why I think the current Big Bash is so good:

1. It goes for a short period of time (only 5 games per team) and as such is a novelty event that people look forward to it every year. This is part of the reason they draw such good crowds. If there were a heap more games people would, as with anything, lose a bit of interest.

2. It is aligned with the current state teams. Not only does this make people passionate about their teams and give them a reason to go to it, but it is a great advertisement for state cricket in general. The imports merely add a bit of quality and colour to the comp, rather than take it over as they might in the IPL style one. I'm not sure whether there would be an auction or whatever with the new one, but if you ended up with a Tait or Cosgrove playing for Gold Coast rather than Adelaide (which should be SA anyway) supporters would lose interest very, very quickly.

3. It doesn't affect the Shield season, which is crucial for breeding Test Cricketers. Keeping the current format of the Shield season is crucial to maintaining the competition's integrity and, as I said earlier, the Big Bash currently serves to raise interest in this competition already.

Overall, I think that this new comp may initially work (especially if McGrath, Warne, Hayden etc. played. The rules could be changed to allow them to play Big Bash anyway to avoid starting a whole new comp), but would turn out to be a huge mistake. CA are so scared of India reaping all of the benefits of this T20 gear, but they will be selling their soul if they go with this. I have really enjoyed this year's comp and I hope they don't stuff it up.


What does everyone else think?

[carey]

i was always taught if it aint broken dont fix it!

[Gozu]

Yep I agree you can't really improve on the current format all that much, it's working, big crowds supposedly pretty good ratings on Fox too so why mess with it? The reality CA doesn't like to face is that we can't compete with the IPL financially and supposedly that's what this is really all about, CA wanting to come up with the #1 T20 domestic competition. We still talk in the millions in India they talk in the billions, it's insane really but just can't see it going ahead. Sanity will prevail.

[Gingernuts]

The imports merely add a bit of quality and colour to the comp, rather than take it over as they might in the IPL style one.

I'm outraged at this comment. I suppose you'll be feeding them KFC to shut them up too?








*kidding*

[Hondo]

The only question marks I have are the loss state-team loyalties and whether all the Australian players will be available

Having the Australian players available + the likes of Gilly and Warnie make me more comfortable with the concept

It's fair to say "it ain't broke" but with the crowds being what they are you can't blame CA for wanting to create our own "IPL" as part of our summer

I have an open mind on it

[Gingernuts]

Yep, if the Aussie internationals are available I reckon it has potential. Not against the idea either at this stage.

I do agree about the length of the competition though, I don't know if it needs to be any longer than it is now.

[ca]

They should leave it how it is. They could change the rules on imports to a degree so if guys like Warne, Langer and Hayden are still up to it and want to play then a state side might sign them up. Similar to how the imports work at the moment. I'd still keep it as the Redbacks ect. They may have to make it a home and away series to play more games.

To be honest reading what I have in the paper I think I might lose interest a bit if it changed.

[mal]

I reckon if I re read Not Scareds opening post another 3,456,982,000 times that I would not find any argument against what he has posted
Ive watched the IPL for about 45 minutes in total
Ive watched the Big Bash almost incessively since its introduction

State v State is what its all about a true comp with a bitta passion
Its IMPORTant we dont flood the comp with more than 2 recruits per team and barstaAdise the comp [like the IPL]

As for getting personalities to the game, why should SA need to
After all we have our own versions of :
RUSSELL CROWE
TWINS ADDED TOGETEHER = ZAC AND CODY
DONNY OSMOND

[Brucetiki]

I think the competition should be expanded to 10 games (home and away), but keep it state-based with a 2 import rule. I'd also like to see a dedicated Big Bash component of the summer (have the tests up until New Year, then January is Big Bash month then the ODI's in February), so that all Australian (including international) players will be available for the Big Bash. Play 2 matches a day - one of Fox, one on Channel 9, and perhaps have the final on Australia Day.

[gadj1976]

My thoughts are that it will need to be revamped - pretty quickly.

Supporters will be bored of the format if it doesn't keep changing in some way or form. Currently most teams batting first win, so that aspect makes the game a tad one sided like we saw tonight. Let's face it, even though it was 9 overs, it wasn't a very interesting game tonight.

So even though I personally don't like t20 that much, I think it has it's place at domestic level. However, Joe Public will bore of the reptitious nature PDQ IMO.

[mal]

Whaddabout, 3 games in a day at the same venue
A V B... 10-00 to 1-00
C V D... 2-00 TO 5-00
E V F... 6-00 TO 9-00
make it a carnival perhaps
nah only joking

[Bum Crack]

Whaddabout, 3 games in a day at the same venue
A V B... 10-00 to 1-00
C V D... 2-00 TO 5-00
E V F... 6-00 TO 9-00
make it a carnival perhaps
nah only joking

How sweet would that be though. Imagine how blind you would get on the hill watching that.

[Hondo]

I think we need to see the details of how the teams will be put together before we can comment with certainty

I understood the state teams would sort of stay in the form of "city" teams and then other teams would be added on. It would depend on how they fill those add-on teams. If it's fringe players from the state teams (who wouldn't otherwise play or locals from the area such as North Qld) + retired internationals then that might be an interesting format.

[Not Scared]

I reckon if I re read Not Scareds opening post another 3,456,982,000 times that I would not find any argument against what he has posted
Ive watched the IPL for about 45 minutes in total
Ive watched the Big Bash almost incessively since its introduction

State v State is what its all about a true comp with a bitta passion
Its IMPORTant we dont flood the comp with more than 2 recruits per team and barstaAdise the comp [like the IPL]

As for getting personalities to the game, why should SA need to
After all we have our own versions of :
RUSSELL CROWE
TWINS ADDED TOGETEHER = ZAC AND CODY
DONNY OSMOND

On the money Mal, and it's amazing how much passion people do have for their state teams, even if not many of them turn out for a day of Shield cricket. Ask anyone about the 95/96 final and they remember where they were when it happened. State vs state is what domestic cricket is all about, and the current Big Bash is working a treat.

hondo's comments on the extra teams is interesting but why not have those retired internationals playing for their actual states if they are still up to it, and why split supporter bases between two teams?

[gadj1976]

As I was saying..........................yawn.....