It’s another summer of love and the Big Bash League’s slide, the absence of Test match fans in Hobart and the Boxing Day fizzer/extended one-dayer are all major talking points.
I would suggest the thing holding cricket in Australia back the most is itself. There’s a long history of eating the right arm in order to grow the left arm.
So with that in mind, here’s a few scheduling proposals they should consider:
State competition – first-class
Get rid of the split and butchered Sheffield Shield comp and run it as a double round-robin over 11 weekends from the October to mid-December.
International Tests would coincide with rounds five, seven and nine, which restores the state comp to proper selection status and gives players continuity of competition.
State competition – limited overs
In the second half of the season, run a double-round robin 50 overs comp from the week after the Sheffield Shield final in mid-December through to the end of February.
Matches would be played on Saturdays in normally deprived country and regional areas (remember they’re state teams, not metro teams!) This makes the state competition a proper feeder for Big Bash and internationals, rather than have players scrounge around for a match at local club level.
Note: if Cricket Australia feels more state T20 matches would benefit the overall game, then the 11 week window could be half T20 and half 50 over games played concurrently in the same window.
International – Test matches
Scrap the Hobart Test. With T20 and One-Dayers that’s more than enough to cover the Tasmanian market.
Have a five Test match window starting from the first weekend of November through to the Boxing Day match. In between every game there would be a weekend off. The season can be allotted as a split of three Tests against one nation, two against another or a full five match series, going Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and finally Melbourne.
International – T20 matches
Play these on the spare weekends between Test matches utilising the two touring teams. You could structure six international T20 matches in November and December with each team playing double round robin (so four Australian T20 games).
In a three team series I don’t think you need a final match.
International – 50 overs matches
With January and February now freed of other international commitments, there’s room to restructure the 50 overs competition. This year’s system – two five match series – is a total joke. It’s just too much and too meaningless.
I propose the series be restructured into a four team double round robin, comprised permanently of Australia and New Zealand plus two other touring teams. This would finally capitalise on the cross-Tasman rivalry, with a permanent game on both Australia Day and Waitangi Day.
The 13 games series (including final) would featuring six games that target the Australian market, an extra four that target New Zealand plus two others involving the touring sides, followed by the final. The games would be played over six weeks, with most games on Sundays (except for the holiday games) so that both sessions are covered.
T20 franchise league
It’s probably easier to break this one down into key points:
1. Don’t axe it, but don’t saturate an already saturated season – we need a short form club version of the game
2. Restructure the game play – introduce split innings. Once a batting team reaches the 10th over or five wickets fall (whichever comes first), teams swap over. This creates four mini-sessions and allows teams to change strategy and make up for weak attacking/defensive performances almost immediately. It’s no longer just a simple chase-down.
3. Once the format has stabilised, introduce a Canberra and Newcastle team. These two centres are deprived of first class cricket.
4. Split the league into two five-team conferences: South (Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne[s]) and North (Canberra, Newcastle, Brisbane, Sydney[s]).
5. Use a single-round robin format with one additional rivalry round (so 10 weeks, five home games each, with three weeks of finals). This creates a 55 game season.
6. Use a top six finals format with week one comprising three versus six, four versus five. The two conference winners would be introduced in week two, following a week one bye as reward for topping their table, and a week three grand final.
7. Run the competition from the week before the Boxing Day Test through to the end of February, broadcast on free-to-air with two matches on each day so that games are targeted to either their local northern or southern market.
8. Finally, rename it as a serious tournament: Australian Cricket League (ACL)
What do you think Roarers? How would you restructure the cricket season?
Bob
Guest
Yes I agree entirely. 1.Shield final can be in late Jan which corresponds to the test window. That way their is no chopping/changing of formats. Finish the season with T20 and ODI cricket. 2. There is way too much cricket. All formats could be reduced surely. Perhaps even a few players could play club cricket. 3. Remember Shield cricket is where young cricketers enter first class cricket. if we lose that there will be no pathways for young players to advance to BBL and IPL or into test cricket. The quality of our cricket will be diminished significantly.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
On the BBL, I suspect a major reason many of us want it reduced is because the primacy of Tests is absolute - over and above maximising revenue - and that means scheduling the Shield for maximum benefit of the Test side, for both the home series and any away series immediately after the home one. To do that requires that the BBL be played over a short time frame. If the state sides still existed it may be possible to play big bash and shield at the same time, but with the franchise system that becomes much more problematic. The finances should, in my view, be subject to the sport and not the other way around.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Ah fair enough, that explains a lot.
Matt F
Roar Guru
I can't imagine anyone who isn't going to the Shield now will start going simply because the uniform changes. I have no issue with day/night matches, though there are still some major issues to be sorted out beforehand (like the ball), but I don't see it improving Shield attendances too much. The Shield is what it is. It will help test matches though
mahonjt
Guest
WOW - crazy times...
Matt F
Roar Guru
I can't speak for everyone else but my arugments aren't because I want to keep that status quo just for the sake of it. My arguments are because I can see what look to be serious flaws in your schedule and I think that, on balance the current schedule is better. It's not about being afraid of change, it's about making sure that change will improve the current system and I'm of the opinion that your design doesn't do this. First class - Actually if you include the T20 matches you've sandwiched in between Tests, some players will miss 6. You also haven't taken into accounts CA's reluctance to play test players in the Shield during a 1.5 week break between tests. CA will more than likely order the test players to rest, especially the bowlers, which negates your main benefit somewhat. You also haven't answered the conern about the short gaps between matches. Players simply won't be able to play 10-11 Shield matches in 11 weeks. We see how hard it is for test players to back up for back to back tests (Siddle and Hilfenhaus this summer for example) and, whilst test matches are obviously longer than Shield matches, imagine having to back up 10 times over. It's not possible. Ryobi - The problem with your schedule is that all the current state players, international players, fringe state players and talented yungsters will be playing in the BBL. There is nobody left to play the Ryobi Cup. It will serve absolutely no purpose for developing Australian players as none of these players will ever be in contention for the Australian side, and it hasn't had any commercial purpose for years anyway. Also how do our state players (who will be in the BBL) gain experience in one-day cricket when they won't play any? Tests - I see you argument about quality over quantity (though that could be solved by playing the better nations more often, which seems to be a growing trend) but unless channel 9 (or whoever holds the rights) can be convinced that they'll make more money out of fewer tests then it won't happen. ODI's - If we're relying on the two other nations to hide the fact that NZ aren't good enough then why have NZ in it at all? Nobody that CA is concerned about will pay attention to their games anyway so why not just have a 5-6 game series between us and another nation? The NZ games would add nothing, especially as they're played on the same day as the Australia ODI's under your schedule, so why have them? I've stated that I'd like fewer ODI's but they still make the most money via TV so they're staying around for a while. Also, while you have reduced the number of Australian games, the duration in which they play them doesn't really change. The current schedule for this summer has Australia playing 10 ODI's and 3 T20's from Jan 11 to Feb 13 (33 days.) Under your schedule the Australian side will play 6-7 ODI matches from Jan 6 to Feb 16 (41 days.) You've managed to cut matches but increase the duration of the tournament. In other words you've reduced revenue while enhancing the growing belief that ODI series drag on too long. Also, because the ODI matches are on the same weekends as the BBL the players in the ODI side still won't be available for the BBL. BBL - I notice in your detailed schedule that many games are played at the same time, so presumably there will be a lot of games which simply aren't covered by TV (or they'll both bo covered which will result in splitting the audience.) That seems to defeat the purpose of extending it, at least from a TV perspective. While you can play afternoon games on Saturdays to avoid the clash (Foxtel would prefer mid-week prime time matches to weekend afternoon matches though) you can't do that for your two friday games. You've also still got the problem that the ODI players won't be involved because they'll be playing in your quad-series ODI tournament on the same weekends so all you've really done is made it longer. You haven't solved the problem of player absence and you may have created one re TV coverage.
Matt F
Roar Guru
I think he was responding to me but replied in the wrong spot
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
The BBL is expected to lose $10m this year, that's ridiculous. I highly doubt the Shield loses that much annually. All the stadiums are owned by their respective cricket boards anyway.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Thanks for taking the time to write back. I'm not sure you really responded directly to the points I brought up though.
code 13
Roar Guru
Again, I put the challenge out to people to mock up their own schedule, they can simply copy the dates I've used above.
code 13
Roar Guru
1. Who runs cricket? If the national body can't restructure the game in the sake of its own interests, then honestly, what use are they? 2. I've heard the keep T20's domestic argument before but I think it would mean missing out on all these new nations who might actually be competitive at it. So again, to keep it domestic only, is to also be holding the game back globally. 3. I disagree but I'd also suggest you check out a T20 match played under those rules before you judge it. 4. Again, agree to disagree there. People keep talking about state players having trouble swapping between formats and lacking continuity between comps, but they seem to forget the big break in the middle of the season... 5. Indeed. 2 x 5 game series is a bit too much overkill. It is New Zealand one-day window. It's up to Cricket Australia to decide whether or not they can keep 10ODIs, 6Tests, 3T20Is, 11 weeks of State Tests, 5 rounds of State ODs and god knows what they want from the Big Bash league. In order to expand the Big Bash League to a 55 game proper domestic club tournament, I'm suggesting scrapping 4 ODIs, 1 Test but also adding 1 T20I and adding either more State ODs or State T20s. I think that's fair value.
code 13
Roar Guru
Sheek, some very interesting ideas there. I think the TV networks would prefer 4 day tests with night sessions than 5 day tests with day sessions with 3 during weekdays. Obviously they would rate a hell of a lot higher. As for adding 2 extra state sides, depending on what else is getting played at the same time, it would mean a strain on the player pool which I think is pretty strained as it is.
code 13
Roar Guru
Can I also just point out to the people who keep saying that I should give the Big Bash league more time, if anything, I'm the one that's the most optimistic about it. I'm actually talking about expanding it and making it the pinnacle of the second half of the season (hence why the grand final would be the last game).
code 13
Roar Guru
Honestly I understand the critique but ask yourselves the question: is the current structure going to expand interest in cricket in Australia? In my opinion no, I fear that it's actually going to make it go backwards. The one key flaw in Cricket's arsenal is the lack of a strong domestic club competition. The Big Bash league can be that link but people want to keep it as a joke comp and play it over a tiny time frame. The whole point of this article was to show cricket can have that domestic comp that would run from December to February and be something that people invest in. Also I've purposefully done it to ensure that games are played on weekends to maximise attendances. That's the key to building a permanent club culture. And I've noticed that the comments on here reflect the usual "keep the status quo" cricket fan response, but if you can't answer that initial question with a yes, then really, I wonder what the point in debating it is then. Honestly, it wasn't that hard to write up that schedule. I invite you all to give it a shot yourself. What you end up with may surprise you.
code 13
Roar Guru
Well as always, it’s just an article to promote discussion. I don’t think the current scheduling balance is correct but again that’s just my opinion. From reading about player’s dislike for aspects of the schedule plus noting key attendances, I think it’s fair to say there is some truth to what I’m suggesting. First Class – I dislike this year’s shield gap and I think if BBL is going to be Cricket Australia’s premier club tournament then they need to be giving it the space it deserves rather than cramming it in a short window, hence why I suggest mid-December through to February. I think losing the top 11 from the Sheffield Shield for 3 weeks (the 3 clashing tests) is better than losing ODI & BBL players for 6-9 weeks. As for T20 champions league clashing in September & October, well it clashed this year anyway. Better to have it clash against state games then against internationals or Big Bash league. Ryobi Cup – It is indeed a loss leader but I think the people suggesting that both Ryobi Cup and Big Bash can both keep the same level of audience interest are on the wrong ticket. Also, I dislike the break between the competitions. I’d rather see Big Bash league expanded in profile and matches at the extent of reducing Ryobi Cup to a feeder comp status. Tests – I get your point about Channel 9 but for everyone who has made it clear that the schedule is too jammed packed, here’s a scenario where I would suggest that sacrificing quantity for quality is the better option. T20I’s – “People still don’t take the format seriously.” – That’s what happens because the way Cricket Australia has treated it. Jamming the Big Bash League in between a bunch of other stuff will ensure that it remains a joke. If that’s the case, then what’s the point? There’s just not enough weeks from January 1st to February 28th to play both a T20 International series, a full One Day series and a full Big Bash league series unless they all take a hit. Again, all the T20 matches I’m proposing are on weekends just like club football. That’s the culture I think is lacking in cricket in Australia. ODI’s –“Remember when the Chappell-hadlee trophy was going to be an annual event?” That’s because it was going to be the centrepiece, here it’s part of an overall series. It doesn’t matter if New Zealand suck because there’s 2 other teams involved. As for the 10 games being reduced, again it’s a matter of priority of whether you want a club cricket league. I sense a serious reluctance from people to even adjust the status quo but you have to ask yourself – is the status quo actually going to work long term?
Steggz
Guest
Day/night Test cricket in coloured clothing will never happen until they get a decent ball. White balls will not last 80 overs and we need a ball that behaves similar to the red ball.
Johnno
Guest
sheek completely agree mate. And this is what I think, . I think it will be amazing how accepting and how forgetful the public will be , if colored clothing comes in to test cricket. The white clothing will be , very easily forgotten about , and left to the dustbin of history and time. With shield sheek, 5 round is fine for me, only have to play each team once that is fine for me, and have a grand final too. The 4 day tests, or 3 day shields are a tough one. English country cricket for years, has been 3 day games, maybe forever i think. It used to get knocked , as being insufficient preparation. My only issue with 4 day tests, is excitement, . Can the public be excited by 8 hour days of cricket. And can the players too, going to be tough on the bowlers. Maybe a sub rule would maybe need to come in, where 1 or 2 subs are allowed, and the bowler not penalised when he comes back on the pitch. He can come on straight away who knows. But either way sheek, test cricket needs a shake up to appeal to the current and next young generation in 10 years time, coz it can't go on the way it's going and hope to survive in 2030. And test cricket is becoming , like golf and tennis, an expensive sport for countries to get good at, unlike say T20 cricket. The decline of West Indies, Sri Lanka, and even NZ in test cricket the longer format of the game, has all been linked to money. And Bangladesh and Zimbabwe I just can't see them having the facilities, and cash injections to get good at test cricket or even be sustainable at the longer form of the game.
sheek
Roar Guru
Coloured clothing freshens up both tests & Sheffield Shield to younger generations. The relevance of the game is in moving to day/nights. The loss of hours (two & three respectively) is virtually irrelevant to the argument. The introduction of two extra teams is where the extra opportunities for professional players are provided. true, the Shield only appears to the diehards, but that doesn't mean that CA should ignore attempting to make it more appealing. You disagree & that's fine, that's your prerogative. The BBL might well have a bright future, but playing BBL & tests concurrently doesn't particularly help either. Players aspiring for test positions aren't going to find their best 5-day form playing 3-hour hit & giggle.
Steggz
Guest
1. Sydney will not give up the New Year's Test. Simple as that. 2. Scrap T20 from the international stage and make it domestic only, with the occasional Champions League. 3. Split innings is a terrible idea for any form of the game, espeically T20. Cricket is all about momentum, so enforcing a artificial momentum breaker will kill the game. Look at how it went for the domestic 50-over comp a couple of seasons ago. 4. The idea of separating the domestic season into Shield and 50-overs doesn't make sense, especially when you have players only involved in one format. I like the mix, especially because you usually gets teams travelling to other states to play Shield and 50-over games. 5. ODI's are a hard nut to work out. They need to work out what they're doing with fielding restrictions and stick with it. But they also need to work out how to best structure the games. They tried the old school World Series format last year (after resting it for ages) but it didn't work, but the 5-game series doesn't really work either. What's the answer? As previously stated, NZ won't always be available so they can't be the 4th team. Maybe we bring back Australia A...
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
How does introducing coloured clothing preserve tests, make the game more relevant or provide more opportunities for players? Day/night tests will happen and that's fine, I'm not sure though that it should be at the expense of playing time though. The Sheffield Shield isn't supposed to appeal to the casual observer. CA budgets for it to run at a loss and only die hard fans take notice of it. Adding new state teams and coloured clothing achieves very little in my opinion, while it will create another 20 odd professional playing positions each, where does the money come from to pay their wages? Certainly not from Shield gate takings. The BBL is only in its infancy and with time, just like the A-League, will develop into its own stand alone competition with enthusiastic and dedicated fan bases. It is here where cricket has the opportunity to be more relevant to modern society and provide player pathways. Plus it's already a day/night, coloured clothing game with eight teams!