A subtle expansion of the Australian domestic Twenty20 competition for the upcoming season is nothing compared to the revolution that will follow it.
The forthcoming summer will be the last time the T20 tournament is fought under traditional state banners, with the addition of three matches to the program a minor shift before major renovations to the summer schedule are introduced for 2011-12.
Those changes will almost double the number of matches played in the T20 competition, while shelving states for city-based clubs, loosely in line with the Indian Premier League.
A trio of fixtures added to the tournament for this season was added to allow each state to play as many matches at home as away, a more equitable model than the previous one which favoured sides who, like South Australia last summer, played three of five games in familiar surrounds.
In launching the fixture for the next edition of the competition, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland noted a “tribal” nature of support had emerged.
It is something sutherland and his minions are seeking to push further by the introduction of a club system.
“The Twenty20 Big Bash is the most exciting concept to have emerged in Australian sports in recent years and there’s no doubt the tribal following that has developed for the teams is a major reason for its success,” said Sutherland.
“We couldn’t have asked for any more from last year’s competition.
“The evenness and quality of matches, as well as the performances of the Australian and international players, were major reasons so many people watched it at grounds or at home on television.”
The international contingent is expected to be maintained, with Pakistan’s new test captain Shahid Afridi thought to be close to renewing his deal with South Australia.
Afridi’s former Pakistani teammate Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, one of the players banned in connection with the team’s horrid tour of Australia last summer, is expected to return to Tasmania.
Chris Gayle is to be joined by fast man Kemar Roach at Western Australia, and Dwayne Bravo will stay with Victoria.
NSW have signed the livewire Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan.
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