On Saturday night I walked into the MCG with a Renegades top on and a Stars membership around my neck. I inevitably left the ground a happy man, if not a tad confused one at that.
The Big Bash League has asked Victorians to divide their allegiances, based solely on favourite players, bright colours, and Melbourne’s twin sporting behemoths.
For some the decision has been easy. For others, such as myself, it’s been like choosing a favourite child.
On one hand, you’ve got Warney, the MCG and Australia’s (former) Twenty20 captain Cameron White. Add international star David Hussey and Test aspirant Matthew Wade to that list, and you’ve got yourself a pretty convincing case.
On the other hand, you’ve got Hodgey – the greatest cricketer known to man – and Shahid Afridi. You’ve also got a stadium that all but guarantees a result, and a batsman-friendly boundary line that promises high scoring.
So puzzled as to who to follow, I’ve thus far gone to every Melbourne game, at both the MCG and Etihad Stadium. While the Big Bash accountants probably admire my indecisiveness, I know that I’ll have to choose a side sooner or later.
But after five games – and three losses – I still support only Melbourne. No nickname, just a full stop.
Part of the problem is that cricket is both a sport of individuals and the team. While most Victorians follow the national side far more passionately than they do the Bushrangers, their level of interest in the international arena spikes when there’s a local boy in the eleven.
What Victorian didn’t feel a smidge of disappointment whenever Ben Hilfenhaus took a wicket in the Indian series, denying one of the Dandenong boys another to their collection?
It doesn’t feel right to divide the Bushrangers straight down the middle. Regardless of which team one chooses, they will inevitably find themselves opposed to a favourite son.
It’s a battle of Warne vs McDonald, McKay vs Nannes, Quiney vs Finch.
There was an uneasy feeling around the ground yesterday when Wade smacked a couple of boundaries off Hodge’s off-spin bowling.
As happy as everyone was for Wade and his Test ambitions, nobody likes to see Hodge publicly humiliated. Surely the selectors have hurt him enough already.
The other dilemma is that both Melbourne teams identify with the same geographical region – Melbourne. It’s a similar story in the A-league, where football lovers have been divided between the Heart and the Victory.
The crowds have told the story, with the only football-esque attendance occurring last night when the two Melbourne teams came together. The 40,000-strong audience was reminiscent of previous seasons when Victoria games consistently attracted big numbers.
It was foolish of the league administrators to believe that such a figure would continue unabated after the Renegades-Stars split. Honestly, where did they think the extra 20,000 fans were going to spring up from?
A far more practical solution would have been to give Geelong its own team and permit that squad to recruit more developing or international players. As such, the loyalty of Melbournians towards their Bushranger heroes wouldn’t have been tested.
Geelong, meanwhile, could have attached themselves with a new breed of players – perhaps the Maxwells, Keaths and Handscombs of Victorian cricket.
Last night proved to doubters that the BigBash is indeed a Big Deal. Despite the naysayers, pyjama uniforms, quirky nicknames and unnecessary fireworks are not enough to turn Melbournians off their favourite summer sport.
Last night proved just as effectively, though, that Melbournians have yet to decide where their hearts lie. Indeed they may yet take two or three seasons before their passions to fly in either direction.
With the teams set in stone, however, the onus is now on the Renegades and the Stars to ensure they can win over the allegiances of this city’s fickle sporting population.
Winning games would be a good start.
Gleeso
Guest
How many Ryobi Cup and Sheffield Shield games have the Melbourne public been flocking to in droves to support their beloved Bushrangers? I can guarantee there were more than 97,000 spare seats at most of the games. And these in the most pure formats according to the critics. So much for state pride.
Reece Jordan
Roar Pro
Totally agree with you Kevin. This actually could have given a good opportunity for both Melbourne teams to try and out-do each other with extra entertainment at the games. But so far it's been pretty much the same at both games, aside from the poor excuse of a DJ at the Renegades game. I've been to all Melbourne games too and have yet to take a side, still absolutely clueless as to how I will eventually decide too.
Kevin Hawkins
Roar Pro
In an uncanny uncoincedence, I received another Melbourne Stars membership pack in the mail today. Perhaps they're really desperate for me to reject the Renegades...
MrKistic
Guest
Yep, Bayswater and Dandenong are chock-o-block full of wanky rich toffs.
james
Guest
Not hating on anything Titus, just making the point that the bbl doesnt need A league type rivalries (kosmina choking someone) and incidents like that to spark rivalries. Its great for cricket that 40,000 can go to a game and most not even supporting one team or the other, simply just turning up and enjoying the night.
Seano
Guest
The city has always been divided by 2, north west on one side, wanky rich toffs on the south east side, etihad is west, Mcg is east, simple pick your team!!!!!!! Go renagades!!!!!!!!!! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Titus
Guest
The only hate is coming from you james.
Matt F
Guest
Thanks JR. I'd heard differently but you are right. Apparently (not sure if it's still the case this year) Ch10 decided not to broadcast the IPL due to the dispute, but nobody else i.e. Foxsports, could show it in Australia because Ch10 still had the rights.....not confusing at all! The Carribean T20 has been on ESPN for a little while now. I remember catching a little bit a couple of years ago so I assume they've kept it since, especially if they're showing it again. Because of the time difference the games aren't on until late morning though.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
Of course it can happen, but I doubt that CA would want to. No-one is going to go to shield matches irrespective of what teams are playing, and that would hurt the brand of the T20 teams. In any case, for all the people that supposedly care about the Sheffield Shield, about 0.01% of them actually care enough to show up to the games anyway. And Matt F, OneHD didn't ditch it, they lost the rights due to a contract dispute in India. I believe the rights aren't held by any Australian network. Interestingly, I saw an ad on ESPN the other day saying they were going to show the Caribbean T20 tournament live.
Matt F
Guest
I can't speak for ebverybody but I don't know anybody, at least in Australia, who actually follows an IPL team. I mean it's not even on TV in Australian anymore is it? I'm pretty sure OneHD ditched it last year. As for the state teams, well one look at their crowds for anything other then T20 shows that people aren't that passionate about them anyway. Following the scores on the internet and in the paper the next day is not passionate support, it's taking no more than a passing interest. The whole point of the new teams was to make it easier to expand the competition and include more teams. Given that the BBL exists to bring in the public and make money, whilst the Shield exists at a financial loss in order to develop test talent, I can't see CA ever looking to expand the Shield.........
The Cattery
Roar Guru
TB let us recall that the early years of ODIs were quite tacky as well, but we got over it.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Russ I agree they shouldn't languish in grade cricket (which in Melbourne we call District and sub-District cricket), but that's a benefit of the BBL - extra contracts for players on the fringe.
james
Guest
I also believe most people like both the Stars and Renagades, i dont think Warne is that much of a factor, the Stars get bigger crowds because they play at the home of cricket, Victorians love to cheer their own players and with many having favourites in both sides ppl have no interest in picking one over the other, dont see anything wrong with that, the bbl is a fun summertime comp to keep ppl occupied during the off season of the major codes, in that regard its serving its purpose, the competition is incredibly gimmicky and plastic...but it doesnt need the hatred of say the A league which is is even worse.
Vas Venkatramani
Guest
The reason why the crowds of this year's Big Bash (with Sydney Sixers and Thunder, and Melbourne Stars and Renegades) are beating last year's (NSW and Victoria) is simply due to the novelty of new teams. CA have pushed this Big Bash far greater than they did last season, and so will get some extra bums for their efforts. For the record, I was at Rhodes Shopping Centre just prior to Xmas where spending $50 in the centre would get me two free tickets to the Sydney derby yesterday (I was given four, but chose not to go). If marketing like that was available to the Test matches, no one would ever have to buy a ticket at the gate. As for the NSW player not playing for NSW, I understand the professional imperative of going to where the opportunities are. I think you misunderstood my intention there. I was merely highlighting that cricketers now will have two or three different teams to not show any real allegiance to (their state team, BBL team and IPL team), and that will eventually muck up the works in terms of deciding what the real value of state cricket is. I mean, what is to stop CA from using the success of the BBL franchises to use those teams and supplant the state ones? I mean, do people really like the idea of watching a Sheffield Shield match between Sydney Sixers and Thunder, and therefore dismantle every great thing about state cricket that came before it? If people don't think that can happen, then these are the same people that watch the belt bit on the plane...
Redb
Roar Guru
Good article, I think a lot of us feel this way and just enjoy both teams. However, I support the Stars though as their home base is the mighty MCG and I just cant get enough of the place. (in particular the bars in the MCC). ;)
King Robbo
Guest
Has been a resounding success surprisingly since I have heard many of my crickets friends say they dont prefer this form of the game. Playing this time of year - the school holidays is a masterstroke by CA. Fox showing the games may have been a blessing in disguise for the BBL as well, with many cricket lovers without fox having no choice but to attend games (especially here over in the west where foxtel subscriptions are lower than the east coast). Channel 9 now have three channels, so surely one could show BBL next year without fear of someone missing on episode of the Big Bang theory.
The Bush
Roar Guru
The Cattery, I have come to the realisation that I don't actually hate the BBL - it's just frustrated that it has been done in such a tacky manner. If it had simply been called the KFC Twenty20 Cup, Australian Premier League or some such name instead of the horrible "Big Bash" League and the teams had normal names and normal uniforms, it'd actually be pretty good. The problem with the Tri-Series ODI structure is that Australia either wins it (as they do more often than not) or it's a national tragedy when they lose - except that you then realist that ODI cricket is meaningless. At least with league's like the BBL you don't go into the tournament expecting to win everytime (making winning it more exciting and losing more acceptable) and the variables are so much more engaging (i.e. late charges to the finals). I would be more than happy with the Aussie summer calendar had Test and Shield cricket to open it and finished with the BBL and some international Twenty20s (perhaps three (3) instead of two (2); doesn't seem like a hard concept to grasp - two (2) game series don't work)
JD
Guest
Vas and Kevin make some valid points. Obviously people love the format, including rusted on cricket goers. Given the massive dollars injected into the promotion of the reheated BBL, better crowds compared to last year would have been a pass mark. So far crowds are about the same as what they were in 2009/10. I have a feeling the new fans have merely replaced those which can no longer be bothered with contests that have been stripped of meaning. Don't discount the Warne factor either. When they put him back in Madam Tussauds next year (and if Gayle & Hodge are likewise occupied), the Melbourne games will start to take on the appeal of a soggy bucket of KFC chips. I'd also be interested to see how long CA can sustain this comp financially. But I guess like the AFL, they have a reasonable war chest to take on such a risky expansion.
james
Guest
40,000 in melbourne and 31,000 in sydney are great turnouts for 2 contests that were always likely to be rained out, Perth are filling up the WACCA, Brisbane are at the bottom yet are still getting 15k to games and 29k to its first game...the queensland bulls never did that and of course great crowds in Adelaide and Hobart. Add the insane tv ratings.....the BBL has been a winner for sure.
me, I like football
Guest
With crowd averages on par with the NRL and TV viewers to match it can only be described as a success. I'm yet to pick a club to support and am waiting until Geelong join the league before doing so.