Remember the ING Cup, with its catchy ad jingle, the signs on the boundary that players got money for hitting, and the people that got money for catching sixes in the crowd?
Crowds were okay – they weren’t at Big Bash levels, but they were okay. Games would line up with the Sheffield Shield (or Pura Cup as it was known then), and the public actually knew games were on.
Now, even some of the more ardent cricket fans would have been forgiven for missing the entire JLT Cup with games being shoved into a month and played all in a select few grounds, which in itself has been causing issues (See: North Sydney Oval).
Upon entering the fifth year of the condensed format, Victoria and South Australia are yet to play a List A game at home under the new structure, with Hobart getting three games this year, two being the finals series.
In the days of the Mercantile Mutual Cup and the ING Cup, Sunday 10 am on Channel Nine meant domestic cricket. Then when it turned into the Ford Ranger Cup, Fox Sports picked up basically every game.
Then under the new format, Channel Nine took it back and flicked it around their main channel and their offshoot channels, offering the domestic game back to the masses.
Not this year though.
This year Cricket Australia took the JLT Cup and hid it. They put all the games on their app and website and did not advertise it.
The cricket itself has been very good.
New up and comers in Will Sutherland and Cameron Valente have made themselves noticed, cult hero Mickey Edwards became more than a long-haired sub fielder, Nic Maddinson and Usman Khawaja have pushed for recalls, Dan Hughes continues to plunder runs, Joe Mennie and Sean Abbott have stuck their hand up to help with the pace bowler shortage and the Marsh brothers once again cast doubt into the selectors mind with stellar performances, even though the public has already cast them off forever.
But the majority of the cricketing public were unable to cast their eye over these performances until it was too late, due to Cricket Australia deciding to hide its light under the internet bushel.
The internet and streaming is the way of the future as it’s how more and more people are consuming their content, but people won’t consume the content if they don’t know it is there.
A combined streaming/TV package would have more than sufficed, as it has in previous iterations, and meant that kids could have a new generation to look up to ahead of the junior cricket season, and the general public would know who to look forward to seeing.
By the way, Western Australia defeated South Australia in the final in Hobart by six wickets. The crowd? Struggling to breach 500.
Don Freo
Guest
Which people, Adam? Non cricket people will certainly share your stance. Cricket people won't.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
you want to play an already struggling tournament alongside Test matches and hope people will care?
Don Freo
Guest
You only need to read these comments, Brian. You may be the only one that doesn't care. Of course we care.
Brissie Boy
Guest
Bit over the top to say Nine took the competition back, think they were paid around $800 000 by Cricket Australia to screen it from memory. That said, the coverage was pretty good and it's an absolute disgrace that we don't have the Shield final and at least a few one-day games on our small screens in some shape or form.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
The tournament style format at present does nothing to help with selection for the Limited Overs series in mid-January, unless form from 10 weeks earlier is still relevant. For the record, its not. As for TV coverage, there is little CA can do if the networks don't rate it as viable. After recent Domestic One Day series, I certainly don't blame Channel Nine for giving it a miss. It has nothing to do with an Ashes focus. In my opinion, Channel Nine simply don't rate the existing format as worth covering. If these matches are not being played on the major fields, rather than small suburban grounds, CA could at least show some initiative and take it to rural centres promoting the game there. Time will tell if the 50 over format can find its place in the new cricket world. No longer the youngest child, lavished with attention, Limited Overs cricket has lost its identity. So desperate to be wanted, One Day games have even tried to take the place of test match selection trials. Thankfully, our national selectors aren't silly enough to think that's a good idea...Oh wait!
josh
Roar Rookie
The Tournament style format, works well. They should have had games on TV, at least the weekend matches. Would have drawn at least whatever 9 where showing on any of there channels. I did watch some games streamed, was OK but not the same. Meanwhile this year the JLT Cup went around the country, adding the tyranny of distance. The issue, as it is for most Australian sports is the reliance on an established media entity to provide broadcast technologies. Ch.9 apparently are focused, perhaps at the hand of CA, to focus on the Women's and Men's Ashes. So, this is where CA need to provide their live-stream to Ch.9. Sure it doesn't have the Ch.9 usual look and feel, but it's on TV.
Ozibatla
Guest
Yes and that principle is test match possibilities. Unfortunatley like someone else said on this topic, 3 doesnt go into 2 and one format has to be sacrificed. With test cricket still priority number 1 in this country and 20/20 the most popular amongst the fans, it doesnt take much to figure out which format is out.
beepee
Guest
I miss those good old days too - but that was before the BBL attained the popularity and momentum it has today. Facts are that the One-Day game is a dead man walking. Its no longer the short, exciting format, and instead, just sits in no man's land. Three cricket formats is too many, and something will have to give, and it'll be the 50 over game. Franchise tournaments are, unfortunately, the future, and even test cricket is struggling up against it. A sad sign of the times.
John
Guest
My solution for Domestic One Day Cricket: 6 Teams (Use City Names) 10 Rounds Play Every team twice, once home once away All Games played on Sunday First Round would have been 8th Oct Last Round 10th Dec Final (top 2 teams) 17th Dec Big Bash starts 19th Dec Shield to be played on weekdays. Channel 9 shows game of the round each Sunday. Entry free or max $10 You're welcome Cricket Australia
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
JLT? Justifiably Losing Touch? Or maybe Justin Langer Trophy? I could be wrong...
Madmonk
Guest
I think you are agreeing with me. CA likes its money but the decision to prioritise shiled over 50 over crciket appears to be driven by some sort of principle.
Ozibatla
Guest
But they are obsessed with money as the cricketing landscape has evolved into a business at a greater level than ever. We all know business in any industry is essentially ruthless in the name of power and money. They couldnt simply sacrifice the shield comp as it is used to measure how players are faring within the longer form of the game, whether they are up and comers or established names. This is the barometer from which we so often determine our test team and with test cricket still being the pinnacle in this country, sheffield shields survival is non-negotiable.
Tommo
Guest
What does JLT mean? What company?
matth
Guest
Agreed. I actually think they have the mix about right, except that the 50 over tournament could have better publicity and then either play it at the proper grounds, or take it to the country centres.
matth
Guest
There is the small matter of the World Cup to think about, as well as all the other 50 over games we are contractually obligated to play as a national team. You;d like our players to get some practice at it. We have a pretty proud history in limited overs cricket to protect.
matth
Guest
I can see a time in the future when the October presence might be taken up by the Women's national cricket team. Their first ODI was on GEM and it was a good match too. I quite liked the streaming coverage, simply because I could have a sneaky peek at work. I also don't mind the tournament format, the old way of being tacked onto the Shield meant that the limited overs competition didn't get the momentum of watching your team rise or fall down the ladder. But if it's going to be a tournament, publicise it and give it impetus. It should be played on the major grounds around the country and advertised. Heck, make it free entry, you'll still make money on the catering.
Marshall
Guest
How good was the Canberra Comets with an old Merv Hughes, better than anything in the bloody JLT.
Marshall
Guest
How good was the Canberra Comets with an old Merv Hughes, better than anything in the bloody JLT.
Marshall
Guest
The ING Cup was really the golden days. Great uniforms, time slots where people knew it was on, the rivalry of having already played the shield game or the shield game upcoming between the same two teams. Spread out so more chances for the aussie stars to partake Hit the sign and catches, you beauty - and Channel 9 commentary with Ritchie and the boys shining the spotlight on our domestic players just brilliant. I remember counting down to 10am on a sunday for the Cricket to start as a young fella, even better with daylight savings a 9am start in QLD less time to wait for cricket you beauty. Miss those days, the butchering of our domestic cricket is shameful.
Madmonk
Guest
The big bash is giving domestic cricketers an audience and money they have never seen in this country. Something had to give in the schedule to accomodate that and I say credit to CA for prioirtising shield cricket over 50 over cricket. If they were so obsessed with money as is the usual complaint, then shield cricket would have been sacrificed in some way. It hasn't.