On Sunday, I experienced the Big Bash League live for the first time when the Melbourne Stars and Renegades faced off at the MCG in the second Melbourne derby of the season.
I was lucky enough to witness one of only three memorable events to take place for the duration of the tournament, when Shane Warne instigated a heated exchange with Marlon Samuels in a futile attempt to turn the game in his team’s favour.
Despite the heavy penalties imposed on Warne, Cricket Australia would be thrilled with the publicity the incident created which overshadowed yet another dull, one sided contest.
After 27 games, the only other highlights I can think of are Lasith Malinga’s 6 for 7 in Perth and Brisbane’s last ball victory over Adelaide. Aaron Finch hitting one of the beams on the roof at Etihad stadium would probably rate a mention.
The biggest problem for the current edition of the BBL has been too many below par totals posted by the team batting first, resulting in boring run chases. The small totals are either run down with ease or the chasing team bats slowly but still wins comfortably in the end, making for a low quality contest all round.
Sluggish drop-in pitches at Etihad and ANZ stadiums have not helped the cause, with the latter making it hard for the competition’s biggest draw-card Chris Gayle, who has barely fired a shot.
Each team is allowed only two overseas players and many have failed to perform so far, contributing to the low standard of the league.
Like the IPL in India, the local talent is spread too thin over too many teams. But that tournament allows each team four overseas players and attracts the biggest names in the world, which makes up for the high number of lower profile domestic players.
Because there are more BBL teams than state teams in Australia, we are seeing players that do not normally get a game for their state. While there are benefits to that, for the most part it’s lowering the standard of the competition.
If the BBL is to survive and prosper into the future, the structure and length of the tournament needs to be rethought.
It’s clear that Sydney cannot support two teams, with games at Homebush attracting crowds below ten thousand. One team needs to be cut or relocated to regional NSW or Victoria.
The tournament needs to be shorter, which may allow more big name overseas players and possibly members of the Australian Test team to take part. David Warner would add ten thousand to any crowd.
The lower budget and time of year that the BBL is played means it will never compete with the IPL in terms of hype and worldwide exposure, but the Indian tournament is a hive of spot fixing and corruption.
Unfortunately T20 is the future, so let’s make the BBL about high quality cricket.
matt h
Guest
I think it needs at least another two years before any conclusions can be drawn. If you want to increase the internationals I would only go to 3.
The Kebab Connoisseur
Guest
The big problem I have experienced in these situations is everyone in the world can see they should never have dumped the state sides but you have these manager types(James Sutherland and the people that put him there) who are still making decisions and if they have to pull the plug they will be saying goodbye to their careers. And who would not want his job, you get to go to the cricket all year long all over the world and get paid squillions. You dream heaven could be that good. James Sutherland and his fellow conspirators put the farm on this concept and it appears to be getting crowds in Perth, Adelaide and Hobart. But, the argument is they would have anyhow as well as in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. I tried it out last year but it is just not for me. If they brought the Vics back and it was not conflicting with the serious stuff I think there is a place for it. Maybe over a few weeks in February after the international teams have left. But not like this.
josh
Guest
Shield cricket is free. But is often on during the week.
langou
Roar Guru
It costs around $6 to go and see the best players in Australia (less one or two Internationals) play in the best domestic cricket compeition in Australia in a format that cricket fans keep telling us is their prefered format. Even just going for a couple of hours would be worth it at that price
Rr
Guest
Granted, low first innings scores have tarnished this years BB. Still, I'm in favour of no changes. I for one couldn't care less about the 50 over international tomorrow. Much rather get home from work and see the full forty overs of a BB. There is plenty of talent out there in Australian cricket. Why do small first innings scores lead you to believe that the talent is low? The Sixers just won the Champions League and finished second last in BB!! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
josh
Roar Rookie
Shield attendances probably haven't changed in 20 years. But it's cost really. Cost of tickets, cost of food drinks in stadiums. It's an expensive sport to attend live. 1 test and a BBL game or ODI is probably all most people can rationalise.
langou
Roar Guru
Typical Australian cricket fans No longer go to Sheild, One day domestic, one-day internationals and are starting to drop off from Big Bash games. Looks like a once a year trip to their local test match is enough
Tenash
Guest
wotdoo the Stars crowd on Tuesday was officially 13680 and thats only a few hours after 47k people turned up on sunday. The average for the Stars is 21.5k and for Renegades is 13.2k.so combined they are averaging nearly 35,000.say what u want but thats a win for me.and i haven't even started with the tv ratings !! So thats more than 60000 people turning up at the G.the odi at the weekend will get less than half that crowd and even less if back to back odi's are played on a sunday and immediately on tuesday.
Wotdoo
Guest
Wasn't the stars last crowd either under or just I've 10000 come on the bushrangers were a much better drawi g team than both renegades and stars put together. The only big game was the last game at the MCG where they played each other. Otherwise a terrible off field presence
josh
Guest
Typical Sydney, really. They don't bother turning up to the NRL so why expect the BBL to be any different? Australia's season doesn't bode well to securing International players for long lengths. I'd suggest leaving the BBL as it is for now. Maybe a relocation might help one of the Sydney teams.
mds1970
Roar Guru
You could cut the comp to six teams by getting rid of the franchises and bringing back the traditional states. That would have to be an option. But if the franchise model stays in place, the Stars and Renegades would have to stay - they've been among the better performers on the field and biggest drawers off it. In Sydney, the Thunder could be cut to reduce the BBL to seven teams; but I can't see how the BBL could be cut to six teams unless you revert to the states.
Matt F
Roar Guru
"David Warner would add ten thousand to any crowd." He played in the first game and the Sixers got 15k against the Thunder. They got 18k last night so that so I seriously question how you came to your conclusion. The answer to the lack of depth is to increase the number of imports that each team can play. Raise it from 2 to 4 and all the fringe players who aren't good enough for state contracts will no longer be involved, replaced by international imports which will increase the standard.
gavjoshi
Guest
Well said Blake. There should only be 6 BBL teams next season. It will shorten the schedule and importantly the competition will be tougher.