Adamant that Test cricket can co-exist with the BBL, James Sutherland says Australia’s jam-packed summer schedule is a “win-win” for fans.
As debate rages globally around the appeal and relevance of five-day Test matches in the new era of T20 cricket and fans feasting on the fast-food style format, Sutherland is convinced there remains room for both.
“The winner at the moment are Australian cricket fans all over the country,” Sutherland said during the third Test against Pakistan in Sydney.
“We have the benefit of being able to watch Test cricket at the moment and the Australian team performing extremely well and then in the evenings we can switch on and watch the Big Bash League.”
Day two of the Pink Test drew 25,755 fans to the SCG before some 20,076 flocked to Spotless Stadium later on Wednesday night for the BBL thriller between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars.
A Christmas BBL game at the SCG featuring the Sydney Sixers and Hobart Hurricanes attracted more than 30,000 spectators, but Sutherland is delighted – rather than disappointed – that the shorter format can draw bigger crowds than Tests.
“It’s an important part of our strategy with the Big Bash League. It’s obviously designed to bring new people to the game and graduate their interest (to Tests),” said the Cricket Australia boss.
“One of the starting points in all of that is to ensure that aspiration to play cricket for Australia is still the pinnacle and it’s something that all young Australian cricketers dream of.
“If you talk to young kids today – and I coach an under-13 team – they all love the Big Bash League, but they all know and understand that the ultimate is to play for your country.
“That’s where their aspiration lies.”
Sutherland also noted record crowd figures for Tests already this summer and forecast even bigger numbers for England’s Ashes Tour to Australia later in 2017.
“First day in Melbourne was a record crowd for a Pakistan match in Australia,” he said.
“I’m absolutely sure that if rain hadn’t of intervened on those later days of the Melbourne Test, we’d have broken the all-time record for a Pakistan Test match.
“The great thing at the moment is we’re seeing crowds all over the country.
“There’s a lot of sell-outs in the Big Bash League at the moment, which is fantastic, and Test crowds are holding up very well – and we all know what our Test crowds are going to be like next summer.”
The real SC
Roar Rookie
One of the things that come into mind about the BBL is that a lot of fans were enjoying the matches live on TEN. Big Bash League commentators are more exciting to listen to than Channel 9. The commentators from TEN understand what is happening during the game especially from Gilchrist, Ponting, Mel Jones, Fleming, Waugh and Symonds. Channel 9 Cricket commentary is sour - Ian Chappell continued to talk and criticise both players. Michael Clarke offered nothing, Mark Taylor cannot pronounce a lot of names properly. You can see that the ratings for Channel 9's cricket have plummeted slightly from last year.
anon
Roar Pro
Something was dodgy about those Boxing Day test day one attendance figures. I know people come and go throughout the day, but they claimed over 61,000 people attended on Boxing Day despite huge swathes of the ground being empty. New Year's Day for the BBL match, with an attendance of 71,000 the ground looked jam packed. Like I said, I know people come and go throughout the day, but not that many people.
Ken (Sava) Lloyd
Guest
One thing that 20-20 has done for Test Cricket is that unless the Batters have a go at every bowl,as they do in 20-20,and not let the bowl go through to the wicketkeeper as Smith and Renshaw did in the first innings of the present Test 20 times in a row,then of course 20-20 will have more appeal to cricket fans.And the mundane call by the Nine Commentators GOOD LEAVE, Have a Go you Mugs. Was the call of that Old Heckler on the hill and it still aplies to the Test players. 20-20 for Me. Sava
balanced
Guest
So you are predicting that a popular product that lots of people want might be priced higher than a lesser quality product that not as many people will want? Wow, you shouldn't go so far out on those limbs, it can be dangerous.
BrainsTrust
Guest
The Ashes will be milked for evey cent with sky high ticket prices to pay for this guys Big Bash marketing push. After you see the new sky high prices don;t worry after they bring back the West Indian C team who could not make the BIg Bash teams. or any of the other t20 leagues, they are going to be generous and lower them.