A Big Bash match is one step closer to being played on Christmas Day and that would be the best present cricket fans could hope for.
Cricket Australia are working towards introducing a Christmas Day game by creating a team to speed up the development of the idea.
BBL chief Anthony Everard is still gauging interest on the concept from teams and officials, but implementing it could revolutionise Australian sport.
“I guess if we were to contemplate scheduling a game, what are the things we would need to take into account and what would make it a success?
“We’re keen to hear the feedback to be honest, we are going to undertake some reasonably formal fan research during the season.”
“Once we’ve got a little bit more information and we’ve got a bit more of a considered view on it, we would reach out to the clubs and ask for expressions of interest, in many ways the same as we did for New Year’s Eve … when the Adelaide Strikers put their hand up,” he said.
Sport and Christmas go together like ham and gravy. They’re fantastic on their own, but when combined, it’s a total game-changer.
Having a game on Christmas Day is a win-win situation for everyone.
Cricket Australia don’t need to look any further than the US to see how financially successful the NBA has been over the past few years when attracting viewers on Christmas Day.
For adults aged between 18 and 49, the NBA Christmas Day games ranked first, second and third in viewership.
The 8:00pm prime time game between the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets attracted 3,881,000 viewers, a ridiculous number for what is essentially a normal, regular-season game.
If Cricket Australia can emulate these numbers to scale, they could be poised for a huge payoff.
With so many eyes on the television, it would also mean that companies who want to advertise their product would pay big dollars to get even just a few seconds of air time.
It’s basic economics really. More money goes to Cricket Australia, it gets distributed among players and clubs which in turn assists in the development of the Big Bash League and eventually grassroots cricket associations who need the money the most.
The influx of money could attract bigger players, ensure that younger cricketers in youth teams have access to great facilities access and so much more.
Australia has many traditions in regards to sport; the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests are just two which come to mind. So why not have a game on Christmas Day?
Attracting crowds shouldn’t be an issue, as long as the two teams have something more to play for than just two points on the ladder.
Many critics have panned the concept entirely, arguing that there won’t be enough time in the day for Christmas celebrations and a game of T20 cricket.
But with the current format, Cricket Australia aren’t asking for fans to sit in the sun for the entire day and miss out on Christmas entirely. A T20 match will only last about three hours or so, much shorter in comparison to a ODI.
And Christmas plans vary from family to family, but after a huge lunch having to listen to Aunty Mary’s love life problems, there’s nothing more I would love than to lie down and watch some cricket.
Or any sport, really.
Another argument against a Christmas Day is the strain on the players and those who have to work that evening.
While this is certainly a subjective matter, surely a financial incentive for players would convince them to play in the evening.
With the NRL’s State of Origin players currently eanring $30,000 per game, and still pushing for more, a similar financial bonus for players could be enough to sway those sitting on the fence.
Much like the fans, players aren’t being forced to spend the entire day at the stadium. They can celebrate with their families during the day and then travel to the stadium later in the afternoon.
Don’t be surprised if teams from other codes jump on the idea because they know as well as I that it could only be a success for everyone involved.
A single game of T20 cricket on Christmas Day isn’t going to be the end of the world for fans and players. No way. Instead, it could be the beginning of something beautiful.
Don Freo
Guest
Mind you, that's not a big sample size. Losing the Ashes is not a common Australian activity.
BrainsTrust
Guest
If you look at Boxing day test match crowds the West Indies drew bigger crowds than England even in 2000. Lose the Ashes and all of sudden its full house England, and with the rise in ticket prices this is the big cash cow for Cricket Australia. The biiggest test crowds have all been against England after losing the Ashes. Foreign TV rights also skyrocketed since then, and Australian TV rights have increased massively as well. It common sense that if revenue increases from 100m to 300m and Cricket Australia have increased spending, then the money has gone somewhere. I don't remember putting a thousands ads on TV promoting the Sheffield Shield, lighting up the stumps. and fireworks. So where has the new spending been its must be the BIg Bash.
jamesb
Guest
Traditionally what we do on Xmas night is have something to eat and then go around checking out the neighbors christmas lights. Anyway Xmas day isn't about sport. It's all about watching re runs of Chevy Chases Xmas vacation. Get with the program.
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Christmas Day is for eating, drinking and sleeping. Not sure if a cricket match would get much of an audience when the vast majority of the potential audience is drunk or unsconscious.
sheek
Roar Guru
This is why another religion that struggles to respect our culture & institutions treats us with contempt. Because we don't have respect for our own christian values. So one day in the future when this other religion breeds us out & imposes their own values on us, we will only have ourselves to blame. If capitalism is your only God, then it will also be your downfall.
Don Freo
Guest
This thread would be a psychologist's dream.
Manxman
Guest
Is nothing sacred anymore!!
steve
Guest
TBF Christmas day sucks. Its the one day that your forced to be nice to the family members that you cant stand being around or looking at. Id love to be able to go to sleep Christmas Eve and wake up on Boxing Day for the Test match.Skip Christmas day altogether. LOL.
anon
Guest
Might be sacred to you, but Australia is a secular country. Even people who claim to believe in Christianity rarely attend church. You're more than welcome to keep the TV turned off on Christmas Day. As for the argument that staff have to work on a religious holiday, a lot of people who work at sports grounds and similar low level service industry jobs these days are Asian/Indian/African/Middle Eastern. I imagine Christmas is just another day for many of these people.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I personally don't care about the Religious aspects of the day, but respect others need to do so, or the rampant capitalism, but I do think family time is of high importance, so do the Players Association if the author had bothered to look.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Hey BrainsTrust (I assume it's a ceremonial moniker ?), got any facts to back this up? You suggesting CA didn't make money until 2005, and that the big bash is unprofitable...???
sheek
Roar Guru
Absolute rubbish! Unless I missed a tongue in cheek delivery, there's no need for sport on Xmas Day. This is a sacred day to be spent with family & close friends. This is just another example of people completing losing the plot as to what Xmas is all about.
GD66
Guest
CA mouthpiece much ? The ODI series which has just wrapped up was a farcical addition to a jampacked calendar in which both sides were in a brief gap between test series, and NZ made it evident they were neither prepared or competitive, Good old CA wedging every possible day of cricket onto us regardless of the playing staff. It has always been the case that Christmas day is a family day for the test side, and for the rest of us the excitement continues to build before Boxing Day dawns and it's finally on, biggest game of the season. Christmas day cricket is where uncle Len knocks his stubbie over fielding at long-on, and Narelle drives one straight through the open lounge doors into the dining room. Just because they play on Christmas day in America doesn't make it compulsory ; have a rest mate, and await the Boxing day test while cruising out with your folks for one day of the year.
Baz
Guest
No to christmas day for me its a day for family few are like that
Onside
Guest
Reindeer racing
mds1970
Roar Guru
My instinct is that it Christmas Day game would struggle to draw a crowd but would rate well on telly. I wrote an article about this around this time last year. My initial reaction to the idea was I was against it; but the more I thought about it, the more I thought Why not?
JoM
Guest
Partly agree, but it isn't just the players. You also have to include ground staff, the people who work in the bars and food areas, ticket sellers, all would have to come in on Christmas Day. One team would have to travel interstate which means they would be there the day before Christmas and wouldn't even get to spend any of the day with their family. I agree it would be nice to watch after a very long day, but maybe Christmas Day is one that should be left alone.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
I don't care about it being a religious day. Don't you remember the dark ages when nothing happened or was open on a Sunday because it was a holy day? However, xmas day is a holiday and traditionally one where families get together. I don't think we need live sport on that day, especially when there's the Boxing Day test to look forward to...
Mango Jack
Guest
So there will be pressure on ground staff, caterers, tv crew etc to work on the one day of the year when nothing is on and families and friends can get together. It's sacred, in a religious and secular sense, so leave it alone. If we really can't live a day without sport on the tele, then it should be a replay of a classic match.
Mango Jack
Guest
I'm with you, Pete. Call me an old fart, but it's the one day of the year when families can gather without the distraction of TV. Leave it alone.