Cricket Australia (CA) is one step closer to finalising their new domestic Twenty20 Big Bash competition following a meeting at head quarters this week. All the talk prior to the CA meeting was whether Melbourne was going to have an inner city rivalry hosting two teams, or if Geelong was going to host one of the two new franchises.
Geelong believed they had the corporate and community support to fund the second Melbourne team in the new Big Bash competition but were overlooked.
CA suggested that once the competition is in full swing, they would be prepared to expand into Geelong and up on the Gold Coast.
So why is it that Geelong will be a suitable team down the track but not right now?
They appear to have sufficient support from local businesses and there wouldn’t be a shortage of fans to support the franchise. They do host an AFL premiership side after all.
The revamp of the Twenty20 Big Bash competition will be pivotal for the success and longevity of the competition but I believe we would’ve been able to reap the rewards from a team located down in Geelong. The interest will still be there down the highway, with a derby on the cards drawing more people into the game as a growing spectacle.
Whilst the location of the teams was a major talking point, the structure of the competition was also a hot topic.
Next year we will have a free agency system that will have teammates playing against each other and state alliances in Twenty20 will be out the window.
Each team will have a $1 million salary cap to spend on 15-18 players. In that group of players there is a two-player overseas allowance per side. The timing of the competition (December – January) will prohibit a string of international players entering the competition with several international tests and one-day games schedule during that period of time.
The new system will see players permanently change states to make it easier on their young families rather than spending two months interstate during the competition.
While suggesting that it’s an exciting time for cricket, Bushranger Andrew McDonald explains that it’s a rather interesting way to go about things.
“The Twenty20 competition as we know it is going to change,” McDonald said.
“If you get re-located to Perth for 8 weeks of the season for the 2020, then do you play first class cricket for WA?”
“Do you just move your family across there and play. Its going to be the decision you have to make. “
“It’s a little bit disjointed so we might see players moving around and changing states to combat that in terms of being away from their family.”
Names and colours of each franchise haven’t been announced yet by CA but they have made a big attempt to distinguish themselves from AFL teams in each state setting guidelines on potential nicknames.
Animal and bird names are not permitted to prevent the alignment to footy clubs. For example, having a team name such as the Melbourne Magpies.
I look forward to the revamped competition and seeing the impact it has on cricket at the grassroots level. There are still points that CA need to work on to achieve perfection but it was certainly a move that needed to be made, for the game’s sake.
Josh Burnell
Guest
2.7 Million people in NSW live outside Sydney and even a lot in Sydney come from outside Sydney - I now live in Sydney but came from the country - I support NSW but I will never support a Sydney team as I have no Sydney history and I know I am not alone a lot of my friends feel the same - Now if they had a NSW country team based in Newcastle and a Sydney team then I would have a team to support but they lost my attendence next year. Even worst the stupid names they are coming up with are embarrassing - where are the Australian names with a good aussie Animal - Koala, Dingoes, Wombats, etc or mayby with a bit of the old tounge in cheek Aussie humour like the West Sydney Kebabs or the Brisbane Blues with a mascot in ablue singlet at least it will be better then stupid american names- like Thunder
DB
Guest
I've heard it being said that half of the GFC (Cats) supporters live outside Geelong, and only half of the football supporters in Geelong support the GFC. So not only would you get the cricket fans that live in Geelong supporting this side, but I believe of those of us that live outside Geelong and support cricket would support the side aswell. We would see it as an extention of the football club as they play at the same ground. Not to mention drawing support from Victorias 3rd City Ballarat less than an hour down the road and the 100,000s that live in the Western districts
sheek
Guest
Back in the 70s, 80s & 90s, the strongest cricket centres outside the Sheffield Shield state capitals were Newcastle & Canberra. Indeed, in the 70s & probably the 80s as well, Newcastle-Hunter District would have been strong enough to play competitively in the Sheffield Shield. When the MCG had its grass disease back in the early 80s, shield matches were played in Geelong. Also since then, Gold Coast has emerged as a massive population growth centre. So using the combination of history & population demographics as my guide, & selecting teams on a 'one team/one city' basis - here's your 10 team BBL comp - Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Tasmania, Newcastle, Canberra, Geelong & Gold Coast. But spare me this new wonky, Americanised nicknames business. I read in the paper the other day the Sydney based teams would be Sydney Sixers & West Sydney Thunder. What a load of crap! And one of them will have pink as one of their colours. What a double load of crap!!! Sydney & NSW can interchange Blues; Melbourne & Victoria can interchange Bushrangers: Brisbane & Queensland can interchange Bulls, & so on. Canberra are the Comets & Gold Coast the Dolphins, so only Newcastle & Geelong have to come with new monikers. I suggest Miners for Newcastle & Rams for Geelong. BTW, Tasmania stays Tasmania. If you had Hobart in the BBL, you would lose the support of Northern Tasmania (Launceston, Devonport, Burnie, etc) immediately.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
How many teams in Australia are actually private equity owned? The obvious answer is the entire A-League but outside of that maybe two or three in the NRL and one in Rugby. Sometimes at least initially while expansion may be warranted there may not be the capital required within the community to successfully establish an organisation. Sponsors and equity is essential, more often than not that will come from a external source.
plugger
Guest
I have no problems with expansion, but teams should be member-owned, not sponsor-owned.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Take away both Western Sydney (from the sounds of it a likely team) and Newcastle and that should be the intial team list for its inaugural season. If successful bring in Newcastle, though, I woill say this keep it a one team, one city competition so a Western Sydney team should never eventuate.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Hate it as you may but its a fact in the sporting landscape when it comes to expansion in Australia and an essesntial one at that. Without the franchise model the AFL would still be the VFL, the NRL the NSWRL, A-League the NSL and Rugby restricted to two provinces. I agree that it has the old american superficial and artificial feel to them at first but ask their fans about whether or not the are real and prepare for the backlash.
plugger
Guest
Too right I do. Franchisement is an Americanism and I hate it. Although, I accept it's a reality that can't be stopped, I still reserve the right to hate it.
True Tah
Guest
why not place teams in the following areas Sydney Western Sydney Newcastle Brisbane Melbourne Geelong Adelaide Perth Canberra Gold Coast
Working Class Rugger
Guest
plugger Than you must be opposed to pretty much every major sporting code in this country as they all possess franchises. The A-League is entriely franchise made while the AFL, NRL and Rugby possess a mixture of traditional clubs and expansion franchises.
plugger
Guest
I'm totally opposed to franchises in any sport. The name of the game is money and that just opens the door for corruption. I'm a traditionalist and believe that a club should be a club with a history and a genuine foundation in its local community. This is just about making money for the people that run the competition, nothing more.
Football United
Guest
great so now we're end up with rubbish team names for each franchise. can't wait for the melbourne super-turbo-charged-twats take on the perth passion pops