Here’s an idea for the marketing minds behind Twenty20 cricket: randomly select two members of the crowd to field and bowl for each team during international matches.
As the crowd files in for the game, they could put their name forward to be chosen to take part in the match. Thirty minutes before the game gets underway, the two names are announced over the loudspeaker, and the crowd members are taken to the dressing rooms where they meet the players, change into uniforms (one playing for the home team, one for the visiting team), and then take the field.
Each player fields for their side throughout the innings and bowls an over or two. I would suggest that they bat too, but there could be significant liability issues if one of them gets cracked on the head with an errant Brett Lee bouncer.
The whole idea is to play on the party atmosphere of Twenty20, give the crowd a couple of players they can really identify with, and make a few dreams come true along the way.
What do you think?
Michael C
Guest
The big thing to remember re 20/20 is that it effectively eminated out of England, Australia has been dragging the chain on getting involved in it at any level - - and thus far the domestic series is a pretty damn good success and the Internationals certainly have not been done to death. I know some would like to largely limit it to the domestic level, as, getting 15K to a Vic vs WA or whoever, that's just brilliant. I went to the final last year, 30K at the 'G for Vic vs Tassie. Much better entertainment value than a 0-0 game at the soccer a month or two earlier. This time frame (Oct-Feb) is the sporting doldrums. And even with ODI's, they require a full day, and not everyone has the time off to be able to attend. It's still too expensive to just knock of work and head down for the evening session. ODI's price themselves out of the market. So, 20/20 allows a much more balanced market offering by cricket. Maybe it's as meaningless as Rugby 7s. But, somehow Rugby 7's is given legitimacy by being a C'wlth Games event (I have no idea how??). So, 20/20 might be a perfect vehicle for returning cricket to C'wlth Games and maybe even the Olympic Games. And it entertains. And if it generates revenue and helps sustain test cricket - that's a good thing. And if it's the only way David Hussey get's to represent Australia - well, it's better than nothing. Entertainment IS NOT A 4 LETTER WORD. ---- DaniE Yeah, I went to the MCG back in the mid 90s, I think a Boonie testimonial match, Wayne Carey took some good outfield catches, and it might even have been Andy Roberts trotting in to bowl, amongst many others. Then there were some more highly publicised and televised games including the great Barry Richards and which game did we see Zoe Goss trap Brian Lara lbw?
Zolton
Editor
Interesting feedback guys. I really can't take Twenty20 too seriously, and I would be surprised if the players got too worked up about statistics and the like in the same way as they do with Test or even One Day cricket. Twenty20, to me, is all about taking the most exciting elements of cricket, dressing it up like a professional American sport, and making it 100% entertainment for the paying fans. It's a marketing exercise to bring new fans to the game. And what better way to do that than to get them involved. Just a thought.
DaniE
Guest
If not considered appropriate for the 20/20 series, could this not be used for the charity/special occasion matches held throughout a season? I think there used to be games of this sort during the 90s (very hazy memory though). Sort of like Barbarians rugby for cricket. It's a fun concept and I would love to be selected for it if it came to life (so long as women are not excluded from participating!).
Michael C
Guest
aLi - I was mainly refering to the intranet based team 'selection' bidding war to fill the squads - - at it's most basic it's a line them up in the yard, but, it'll be the ultimate corporatised sport - - it's going to challenge a lot of people - these are true franchises. Not so strange in that part of the world, but is so here and in England. I well remember reading the ABC Cricket Book and being amused by players from Pakistan who representing "Railways", and "PIA", and Habib Bank etc.
Stoffy
Guest
Fantastic idea Zolton. I can picture the headline in the paper "John Blogs takes 5 as India stumble". I'm not sure how the players would take it, there's the opportunity for runs but on the other page, being dismissed by an average patron. aLi, yes we want to see cricket at a high level, but twenty20 can not be taken at all seriously, why not spice it up, i'm sure the crowd will be voting for it.
aLi
Guest
Millster - my point exactly recent times atheletes are required for 20/20 - not to say that boonie/hughes and botham were not skillful. They were highly skilled players. people from the crowd is just degrading to the players themselves. I agree with Greg, it doesnt work for too long if theres too much 'fun/love/joy' involved. People want to see 11 best against 11 best. Michael C - IPL may sound like a wham bham promotion, but a team costs over $100 million US it is suggested that Ponting could make anywhere from US$600k - $800k!! for 6 weeks thats phenomenol
Greg Russell
Guest
NSW has already tried this idea by playing Andrew Johns in the 2006-7 season. It did bring along the crowds, but otherwise the concept was poorly received. If it doesn't really work with a celebrity like Johns, why would it work with a face from the crowd?
Michael C
Guest
aLi, isn't that what the IPL is all about, ....although, not so much 2 arm chair cricketers from the crowd, more, from the Mumbai Billionaires club....
Millster
Guest
aLi - with respect, I am only 35 and yet I remember well the Boonies, the Bothams, the Merv Hughes etc of the not-so-distant past. To speak of "very professional" and "level of fitness / skill" in relation to that game is - even being generous - only appropriate in the most recent of times!
aLi
Guest
with utmost respect this is not very well thought out by you. As a tragic I would love the opportunity, however on the same account to take the professionals away from a very professional sport is demeaning its value, even if its only 1 or 2 players. People from the crowd can not sustain the level of fitness nor the cricket skill to see anything substantial. Here’s an idea why don’t we select 2 overweight arm chair cricketers from the crowd make them captains line up two sides together and with the toss of the bat decide they get to chose their playing 11 one by one…
Millster
Guest
Classic! Thinking through what would make this realistic, I say restrict the public role to 5 overs of fielding only (outfield not slips) and give them a baseball mitt. I can only imagine the rapture of the crowd with a punter under a lofted ball.
onside
Guest
Brilliant Idea, And maybe to add further interest the same process could be used to select umpires for an over or two. Plus in our politically correct society, our disabled freinds would not be denied their turn. To that end we could witness a sort of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore scenario ,where Pete is bowling from one end, and Dud,a man with two artificial legs is batting. Pete hits Dud on the pads absolutely smack bang in front of middle stump and screams at the guest umpire for an lbw decision. The appeal is rejected. Dud is adjudged not out because a man with no legs is incapable of being lbw.