Just over a month into series two of the Big Bash League, here are a few thoughts.
Even as a hardened Twenty20 cynic, I have reached a middle ground. The Big Bash League has delivered on its promise – there has been plenty of action and entertainment.
There has been passion and commitment from the players and the cricket has been competitive. Heading into the final few games and franchises are still jockeying for positions.
Great cynicism has led to greater joy.
Still, I know of ardent cricket fans who have stayed away. T20 remains an abnormality for many, with some still worried it might consign Test cricket, their beloved form, to insignificance.
But the commercial success of the tournament should not simply be measured by how many are watching in the stands. It should also come down to how many are watching on television.
One of the remarkable aspects of the tournament has been how much passion has spilled over on to the paddock.
Whether you think Shane Warne and Marlon Samuels were in the wrong you can’t argue that both player stood their ground in what proved to be a dramatic yet enthralling battle on the pitch. Emotion in sport is a wonderful thing.
One of the most disappointing aspects, however, has been the lack of interaction with the fans. Remember the Mercantile Mutual Cup (currently known as the Ryobi One-Day Cup) ‘hit the sign’ initiative? A cash prize was awarded to a player who could strike one of eight signs positioned around the ground on the full.
What about the ‘catch the six’ campaign. A cash prize was offered to a spectator who can caught a six hit into the crowd.
Aaron Finch’s hundred is clearly the best knock tournament so far. Including 12 fours and four sixes in his 65 ball knock, it was not merely the number that impressed, but the ease with which he hit them.
T20 continues to reveal itself as a captain’s game. Not erudite in the manner of Test cricket, but it requires plenty of decision-making in a short time. Captains need to be in the game all the time. They need to be calm, clear-headed and flexible. One bowling change or field placement can turn a game, just as one could lose it.
Although only two seasons old, the Big Bash must continue to evolve. Cricket Australia’s hierarchy must continue to look after those – the fans – that make the game what it is, and, most importantly, what it could be.
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