After nine matches of the new Ryobi Cup the jury is still out on whether the new format is working.
So far we have seen a lot of low scores, the comp cut to six games per team and the games being played in one state.
We have seen players such as Cameron White asking questions about the Cup’s new format and, more generally, every state but New South Wales are not jumping for joy about the fixturing.
On the other side, playing the games at suburban grounds is seeing crowds on the rise, especially when New South Wales are playing.
I think the format is working. However, the organisers need to make sure it is held in a different state every year so everyone gets a taste of quality one-day cricket at the suburban grounds.
So far we have seen a lot of low scores from teams, which is the complete opposite of what was expected from the smaller grounds hosting the tournament. But as we have seen from players like Michael Klinger a long inning can be formed if you get yourself set.
Ben Cutting proved that power hitting certainly works, smashing 98 at close to a strike rate of 200. Cutting’s innings also led Queensland to the first team score of over 300 in the tournament.
However there have been enough other scores over 200 to show the batsman can succeed if they put their heads down and do the hard yards early in their innings. There have also been plenty of scores under 200 with one score under 100.
At this time of the year the pitches often won’t suit the batsman due to their slow pace and up and down bounce. Should the Ryobi Cup be played on suburban grounds at this time of year when the pitches suit the bowlers a lot more than the batsman?
There is also an argument to be made that Australia’s best players should be preparing for the Ashes right now, not playing white ball cricket. Save that for later in the season so that players can push their claim to make the one-day squad.
The Ryobi Cup also should not be cut to just six games per team. Australia’s best need more than just six games per season of one-day cricket.
Each state should play two or three games in a number of different states over the course of the season. That way Cricket Australia could still enforce the World Cup format feeling and a number of states’ fans could get to see the Ryobi Cup.
The other benefit of this would be that one-day players would have multiple chances across the season to prove what they can do in the one-day arena and push their claims for the Australian squad.
Suburban grounds are a good idea. This is certainly the way to bring the fans back to the state cricket which in recent years hasn’t exactly had very much support.
This year’s games featuring New South Wales have drawn quite large crowds, and even games not featuring New South Wales have drawn reasonable crowds which would either equal the crowds that would normally be seen or possibly top them.
From what I have seen the format changes have been a good idea that have worked reasonably well.
But for the format to succeed the tournament has to be played in a number of different states and we must give each team more than six games to show their wares.
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