I really enjoy the Big Bash League and will challenge anyone who knocks it.
I obviously prefer Test cricket as the ultimate form, as I do with 50-over cricket. Yet the little brother in T20 is one I also like.
This season has been a real success with TV ratings higher than ever, and I do prefer the free to-air telecast.
One change they have got to make, though, is the match times.
Night matches generally start at 7:40 AEDT, and in my view this is too late. Games end around 11pm, and this in itself is a problem.
The format is about bringing kids and families into it. While Aussie kids find themselves on school holidays right at this point in time, the finish time is too late regardless.
Start these games earlier – a 6:10pm first ball would be ideal.
Why not get the game underway earlier? At Melbourne Renegades home games, they insist on wasting half an hour with motorcycle riding they call Xtreme Team.
I must ask, is this necessary? I think it’s about as necessary as the Network Ten telecast having the celebrity catcher in the grandstand and players on the mic.
A 6:10 or even a 6:40 start makes a lot of difference.
In terms of match times, the odd afternoon game – of which we have seen several this season – work well as a double-header with the evening game.
At the moment the second innings of matches is starting at 9:45pm. This is far, far too late.
A 6:10 start finishes the games at 9:30 or thereabouts. With the current 11pm finish, many young families attending these games won’t get home until after midnight.
This is not about boosting crowd numbers (although that wouldn’t do any harm).
Instead, it’s to assist what T20 cricket is supposed to be – family- and kid-friendly.
They’ve got a great product here in the Big Bash League, it’s now about enhancing it.
In the scheme of things it’s a minor change, but it’s one that would do plenty of good.
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