The Big Bash is an all-conquering sporting force over the month-and-a-bit it runs. As Cricket Australia negotiate a new broadcast agreement for the tournament (and the internationals) over the winter, they will do so from a position of incredible strength.
But we can’t take success as a sign that we shouldn’t change things. The status quo simply cannot remain – tinkering is life.
As someone, somewhere (probably) said, “if it aint broke, let’s fix it anyway, because why not?”
Here are five ways to improve the Big Bash.
1. Give January to the Bash
This isn’t a new idea; I’ve seen it plenty of times on Twitter over the course of BBL06.
There is an inherent tension between domestic and international cricket, but one that has been largely one way: international cricket taking precedent. The success of the Bash, and the flailing mediocrity of one-day internationals as a spectacle, will soon force cricket’s hand.
Most of Australia’s best and highest profile cricketers didn’t face or bowl a ball between them over the six-week tournament. David Warner, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were all fully occupied. Chris Lynn, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell are some of the best T20 players in the world, but played less than half of the tournament.
There is no reason why ODIs are scheduled in January. It’s just how it is. With the Bash now commanding as much, if not more, of the nation’s attention span over the overlapping period, it is time to give the shortest form a clear runway in the peak of the summer.
Let’s move the ODI summer from January to February.
Last week it emerged the Big Bash would expand by ten games next season, with the eight sides having an extra home game each. It will be difficult to squeeze those games into the current window; adding a Christmas Day game, and an extra double header or two won’t be enough. Perhaps this is already on the whiteboard at BBL HQ?
2. Up the international player quota to three per team
There have been some outstanding current domestic players in this tournament. The emergence of Mitch Swepson from the Brisbane Heat; the entire Perth Scorchers line-up taking names, as they always do; Ben Dunk saved Adelaide from outright embarrassment more than once; and Daniel Hughes from the Sydney Sixers went well too.
Equally, some players were a little off the pace. Generally, these were the ‘former international, now domestic T20 only’ class. These guys – Shaun Tait, Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus – looked a yard or two off the pace for much of the tournament. There were plenty of other domestic players who weren’t up to the best the tournament had to offer.
Part of this is the temporary nature of the competition. It’s wedged in between the first-class season, and the teams only get access to their players around a week before the tournament gets underway. For players who aren’t already playing regular top-flight cricket, the first weeks of the tournament are as much about finding their feet as performing at their peak.
It hurts the quality of the cricket, across the three disciplines. This was particularly evident in the field this season, with countless dropped catches, missed run outs and poor outfielding.
One way to lean against this would be to up the international player quotient, from two per team to three. Generally speaking, the international players selected by the eight BBL teams have been able to perform from minute one – save those of West Indian origin. Giving the teams access to an extra slot would up the standard of cricket, take some pressure off of the domestic player pool, and allow those who are good enough more opportunities to learn from the best.
An ideal time to do this would be when the league inevitably expands. If two extra 18-man teams were added, the BBL player pool would expand by 36; upping the international player quota to three would mean 14 new internationals (one for each existing team and three for the two new sides) and 22 domestic players.
3. Remove bowling restrictions
Like the January ODI window, there’s no real reason why there is a four-over limit on the number of overs a single bowler can send down in T20 cricket. One assumes it’s simply an interpolation of the ten-over limit for 50-over cricket.
It means teams are forced to use part-time bowlers or turn to a plethora of all-rounders who aren’t quite elite batsmen or bowlers. Perth Scorchers aside, every other team could do with some extra help in the bowling department.
Domestic T20 leagues are subject to the official Laws of Cricket, but I understand each domestic governing body is able to modify these general laws as they see fit. Law 12.8 is “Number of Overs per Bowler” – it is set as a maximum of four overs in Cricket Australia’s Domestic Playing Conditions document for the Big Bash. If I were the Cricket Australia board, I’d consider removing the limit altogether.
It would allow the clubs to pick the best bowlers, and have them bowl more of the overs. Clubs would have the freedom to continue to pick all-rounders to have variety in their line ups, or go to the other end of the spectrum and pick two elite specialist bowlers to bowl the full 20. I’d guess most teams would roll with three frontline bowlers and a better-than-part-time option.
While we’re at it…
4. Remove fielding restrictions
Why does the power play exist in T20? It was introduced into 50-over cricket to help batting sides get off to fast starts, or indeed to incentivise them, rather than conserving wickets for a push at the end.
For T20 cricket, there’s no need to help teams get off to a fast start. Teams are ready to go from ball one.
Allowing opposition captains more flexibility in their fielding would make the game more tactical, and force batsmen to be smarter about the way their start their innings. Besides, the best games are the ones where the batsmen really have to work to score, not the 180-run chases where a team gets in trouble early.
Giving captains the tools to defend more tactically would help make the game more balanced between bat and ball.
5. More fireworks
That one is self-explanatory.
Basil
Guest
That's the problem..., fringe players getting a gig making the standard lower. You're either good enough or not.
Ken (Sava) Lloyd
Guest
I dont think we are on the same wave link, read my comments. Glen. Sava
Bakkies
Guest
What visiting team is going to bring out a separate one day side for just two matches?
Glen
Guest
They aren't playing for Queensland. They are playing for Brisbane. Isn't one of Brisbane's colours blue anyway?
Ken (Sava) Lloyd
Guest
Dont send it down Hughie,The Teal and Skyblue are both a version of blue and that doesnt suit anyone playing for Queensland. Sava
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Nice piece Bucko! With point 1 I agree, except for the January 1st Test, most fans are still on holidays for this so it gets decent fans, as well as the BBL. 2. If we increased the amount of teams I would like to see this happen. With point 3, if anything increase it to 5 overs, so you can choose 4 frontline bowlers but would still need cover in case one or two gets carted/goes down. 4. I don't mind the fiedling restrictions, ok to stay. 5. Love the fireworks except when you are a bit close to them and theres a series of 6s or wickets. Certainly heats up a bit!
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
1. Nothing wrong with it, crowd involvement. 2. Usually its the lower order batsmen mixing themselves up. 3. Whats wrong with the crossover? The female commentators are usually cricketers who have a day job and are more articulate than the average male one. 4. Theirs a reason that those colours are not of the state they are based in and I didn't know sky blue and teal were the same colour.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Plus it would give them a better chance to get their eye in on Australian surfaces rather than rush straight into a test match.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
They either care about T20 or not at all. What do you think CA prefer? I know more people than ever who watch the BBL than ever before, and that does have a somewhat flow on effect from people not caring at all about cricket to even having a glance at the scores now.
Bob
Guest
Get rid of the ODIs altogether, they add nothing to the summer and the crowds turning up are getting smaller and smaller. Would anybody mourn their passing?
Bruce Wayne
Guest
1) Perhaps too much saturation? Could be good 2) Good idea, double header at Adelaide? But which teams miss out on an extra home game? Hmm 3) I believe women should only commentate on the women's version of the game. Seems only fair. That insight can be provided just as adeptly by a male commentator. 4) Probably not for T20's, it will slow the game down too much. It's only hit and giggle anyway, doesn't really matter if there's an incorrect close call or two 5) Nature of the beast, what pays for the players salaries? I don't like it either, cheapens the broadcast but what can you do.
Crank Yanker
Guest
Yeah?
Kris
Guest
I think taking out the international players really takes the x factor out of this competition. It would be nice to have our test players involved but that's not going to happen because of the international program. Also if it's good enough for our players to play in the IPL we must welcome these players. Some will perform some won't - that's the risk you take.
Jason camac
Guest
Howie may not be the best going around but I'd much rather listen him than Clarke, Warne , Taylor and Healy if Channel 9 got the gig, or god forbid Bruce , Baz and Hamish if it got to 7 !!
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
I don't think you've gone far enough Ryan, and neither has CA. Geelong, Fremantle, Gold Coast and Canberra are all perfect candidates for Big Bash teams, with each having an established ground with a similar capacity to Bellereve Oval & the WACA. 12 teams, 12 rounds. Derby partner is played twice. 6 home games a season with plenty of room for Double & Triple headers.
matth
Guest
There are kids supporting the Heat decked out in their aqua or teal or whatever, who could not care less about the Bulls. And are you enforcing sending all the state players back to their respective teams? So all the fringe NSW players running around have to take the month off and go play grade cricket?
Bakkies
Guest
'There is an inherent tension between domestic and international cricket, but one that has been largely one way: international cricket taking precedent' Sorry but CA issues out central contracts to players that they identify to play cricket for Australia. You have to abide by those conditions and they dictate when you can play. The states are there to develop players to play for Australia otherwise CA wouldn't have a comp that has lost money for decades to produce international standard Cricketers. Therefore why should these plastic franchise dictate to their employers CA when these players are available to play. CA as their employers control when they play and are tied to the agreement with the players' union. The so called leagues that are currently operating under their respective Cricket boards have to split off as their own entities and employ the players. Then they can take their case to the Indian Cricket Council and their own national board to have international windows so players can play test and one day Cricket for their countries without their franchises kicking up over losing players.
The real SC
Roar Rookie
1. Triple Header for Women's BBL - The fact that Women's BBL has been improving since 2016-17 season was the fact that the ratings have skyrocketed. Start on the 2nd Dec 17 with times from 10am, 1:30 pm and 6pm {Official launch of WBBL03} Games will be played at a neutral venue at the North Sydney Oval. 2. Double-Header Men's BBL games on NYD - Women's start at 2PM, followed by Mens at 6pm then the other game at 9pm. 3. Put Izzy Westbury in the commentary team - she provides a lot of insight towards the game. We don't need Andy Maher's constant agenda on other things. We Don't need Mark Howard silly antics during the whole game 4. Include the DRS in LBW. That would provide better accuracy to determine whether the ball is trying to hit the leg stumps. 5. Get rid of the pop-up TV promos e.g. Family Feud, I'm a Celebrity, The Project during the overs - I don't necessarily like it when commentators discuss about TV shows.
Simon
Guest
Hilfenhaus had a great tournament imo, his T20 bowling is better than ever
GD66
Guest
Point 1 would be worth a look. Point 2 : Many of the internationals have been disappointing and performed below par this year, so adding an extra international would raise the cost without necessarily augmenting the result. Would rather see the BBL used as a vehicle for continuing the emergence and recognition of young players. Points 3 and 4, I see no need to alter anything here just for the sake of it. Point 5 : Well, of course. The tourney works well, and hasn't needed much tweaking. Remember the guest "celebrity" awaiting an unlikely catch in the box ? Disappeared without trace or mention.