Comments on: Big Bash could be the saviour of Australian cricket

By: David Wiseman

David Wiseman — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:17:03 +0000

The sides should be at full strength for the final – guys like Cameron White shouldn’t have to miss the final for a meaningless series against Pakistan. Poor scheduling.

By: David Wiseman

David Wiseman — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:51:53 +0000

But the point is that they are playing in the compettion as opposed to the Australian players who are quarantined from it.

By: McLovin'

McLovin' — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:16:50 +0000

Not all indina players play for their home states, only one ‘icon’ per state.. rest are bought/sold like cattle with the rest.

By: David Wiseman

David Wiseman — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:14:31 +0000

All of the Indian stars play for their provinces in the IPL – why shouldn’t the same happen in the Big Bash with the Australians playing for their states or whatever it is going to be?

By: drewster

drewster — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:53:09 +0000

Yes Vinay you have hit the nail on the head! Unfortunately Elite level sport has become almost beyond the working class bloke and his family. Your pricing structure I am sure would have more people attending for more days and unless you have access to a corporate box or the like the beer and food are “Crap” and the service is just as good. As an average bloke I can afford about one day of a test match these days. You have one member of your “Spectators Union” in me.
David have to agree with you about the over zealous “Fun Police” What ever happened to a sense of humour?

By: McLovin'

McLovin' — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:51:11 +0000

Brilliant. Hopefully there will be something similar at the SCG, perhaps even a sydney v west sydney derby.

IPL is also talking about taking a small tournament to USA, Shane Bond, Kerion Pollard sold for $750,000, new T20 teams in Austalia, India, Forbes says that the growth of the IPL is phenominal..

Love it or hate it. This format is making some big moves.

By: vinay verma

vinay verma — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:19:58 +0000

You are quite right,David. It is absurd that there are restrictions on musical instruments and beach balls. I’d rather people threw a beach ball than a chicken leg as some have done. The policing needs common sense. And $5000 if someone streaks across the ground. That is absurd. But this is happening in the West Indies also. The crowds there are dwindling because they have banned the drums and the weed. I have never found any racism at the SCG and I can assure you I would know if someone was being obnoxious. But this would be the same at the Big Bash. The food and the beer is still overpriced. The English have a more mature attitude to spectators at the cricket and it is fun to be there.

Test Cricket has to be entertaining..the playing and the surroundings.I have been advocating a spectator’s union for some time. A reserved ticket should not cost more than $25 and an outer ticket at $10 is the maximum. You might then find more people attending. The One dayers are the same. It is time cricket became the working man’s sport and not the privilege of the elite and the corporates.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:08:23 +0000

I got an email from a mate up in Brisbane yesterday, and he said that he’ll be at the game in Brisbane tonight (as I type in fact), and will be “in a place called the twilight lounge. private bar, and a dress code! The tickets are only $30 (inc a free drink) so it’s a score.”

What a brilliant idea, it would have to appeal to the after-work crowd just as it has for my mate….

By: drewster

drewster — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:02:28 +0000

I find the Big Bash great for Entertainment and Value for Money. Although I still prefer the long version of the game myself, Cricket is Cricket in any form to me. It also gives exposure to all the Cricketers who probably aren’t as well known around the country and if it is bringing in the crowds I say bring it on! Hopefully they can work out a way to get crowds back to the Sheffield Shield or at least get some better public exposure to the first class cricketers around the country.

By: Working Class Rugger

Working Class Rugger — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:02:19 +0000

I personally think the Big Bash has enough action to continue its amazing growth into the future. It is Cricket on steriods. More big hits and spectacular catches in a shorter time period. It will survive. I am interested in who the supposed 2 other teams will come from.

By: David Wiseman

David Wiseman — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:52:46 +0000

A problem with Test cricket is that its horribly over-policed and over-priced. For a day’s cricket, you could find yourself out of pocket by a bit – that is, if you aren’t thrown out of the ground for sneezing or looking at someone the wrong way.

By: buck

buck — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:27:42 +0000

i wonder whether, like the A-league crowds which began bright, whether the T20′s ones will fall off and find their level (to build on once found) after much curiosity from spectators early on.

will more games keep fans coming in such large numbers?

By: Fisher Price

Fisher Price — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:15:24 +0000

The Big Bash is speed-dating sponsored by a junk food business.

By: Gerry Faehrmann

Gerry Faehrmann — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:50:41 +0000

That’s right, Brett. I suspect the Cricket Administrators will be licking their chops and rubbing their hands together with all the excitement.

I neglected to mention that last Sunday I went (with a mate, his son, and one of my daughters) to see Sydney FC get beaten by Gold Coast at SFS, then just before the final siren we scampered out and drove down Parramattta Road to Homebush to see the 20 20 Big Bash with my wife and rest of clan.

Mate, I’m all sported out! Is that possible?

By: Cracker

Cracker — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:19:39 +0000

If the big bash expanded to 8 teams who would be the additional two? South and North Island NZ?

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:17:22 +0000

dont know about the games played every day and double headers (i thought T20s were introduced beacause ODIs were too long, so why play a 6 hour game??).. but agree that the big bash has been successful and exceeded my expectations.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:53:59 +0000

completely agree Garry, similar sentiments were expressed about the 40K+ crowd in Melbourne last Friday. Curiosity and mild interest is becoming a flood of spectators..

By: Gerry Faehrmann

Gerry Faehrmann — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:09:54 +0000

There is definitely a void that needs to be filled. I was there the other night with my wife and 6 children when the Blues blitzed the SA team. You might laugh at taking all the kids including a 6 & 2 year old, but I gotta tell you there was wall to wall kids there in the ANZ Stadium. I reckon there would have been at least 50% kids in the crowd!

This 20 20 game is cricket on steroids, and I gotta tell you it fits really well with all the ADD types. No time for the kids to get bored with the 20 20 version.

Any way that’s my 20 cents worth!