It’s time for Cricket Australia to do something for the fans – because we are hurting. Ever since the Cape Town scandal, I’ve been dirty about cricket in general.
Not because I don’t love the game – far from it, I live for the game.
It’s because we’ve lost a part of our innocence, and the pride of the baggy green has been shattered. The media blowout, the comments on social media and just the continued disappointment deep down. It’s like a form of loss.
I don’t mean to heap more criticism on the players who made the terrible decision to tamper with the ball. They are young, talented and decent blokes – all of them. Let them have a second chance and let’s forgive them.
What the fans of the game need is a form of release.
We need to stoke the fire of pride and reconnect with everything that is beautiful about Australian cricket. Not just the old game, but the emerging one that is about fairness, inclusion and pride in the baggy green.
The game has changed forever, so why not embrace it and wrap this new spirit up into one filled with pride and emotion.
We need a big brand campaign that breaks fan tension and reminds us of why we love cricket. A campaign that lets us celebrate, but also helps us heal, move on, and look forward to the big summer ahead.
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So, stick with me here, what about building a campaign around ‘You’re the voice’ by John Farnham.
During the 2013-14 Ashes, I was lucky enough to be on a tour to Adelaide with 18 Poms and one other Australian (maybe unlucky?). The DJ at a packed pub put it on after Day 1 and the crowd went mad.
With replays on the big screens and the momentum the Aussies had in the series, many of us were in tears, just swept up in the moment. The feeling that nostalgia has a way of teasing out of you.
Here are the words and how I’d use them to build an emotive piece:
We have the chance, to turn the pages over (we have the chance to move forward, despite recent controversy and pain)
We can write what we want to write (we choose now)
We gotta make ends meet, before we get much older (we need to shake hands with our fellow competitors – to meet them on friendlier terms)
We’re all someone’s daughter (support women’s cricket – montage of great players)
We’re all someone’s son (The memory of Phil Hughes and the up and coming youngsters who are the future of our game)
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun? (Use the metaphor of looking down a raised cricket bat – flashback to great knocks, players, moments).You’re the voice, try and understand it (I am cricket, you are cricket. It’s not one player – it’s an entire nation)
Make a noise and make it clear (let’s support our team and the beautiful game of cricket)
We’re not going to sit in silence (montage of great moments in Australian cricket)
We’re not going to live with fear
And so on…
Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images
Next time you listen to ‘You’re the voice’, have a think about how good it would be. If I had time, I’d knock out a teaser video but I need to knock out dinner.
Another thing to consider is distilling the ‘big issues’ into part of the campaign marketing mix. For now, let’s call it the three values of the baggy green:
Fairness
We believe in a type of cricket that is competitive but fair. We respect our fellow players and do what we can to display sportsmanship at all times.
Inclusion
Cricket is a game for every brother and sister across our great land. We don’t discriminate against any form of gender, race or religion.
Pride
We hold the baggy green at the highest level. When you play for Australia, you represent the entire country, and all its sons and daughters, both present and past.
These values could be a new pledge all the players take at the start of the season and one that filters down to grassroots. It could be spoken by people of different ages, gender and backgrounds.
Bottom line is, I really hope Cricket Australia does something beyond a bland summer cricket campaign that is designed for sales with has zero emotion.
Let us release the tension and pain that has built up, from the loss of Phil Hughes, to the scandal that has rocked the baggy green.
Build an entire campaign that gives back to the fans and tells them CA is listening. Create something beautiful, memorable and emotional.
We need it now more than ever.
Ironmonger
Guest
I get what you are saying, but I think "The Voice' is a bit too polarising...how about something linking to the great history of the game...the highs and lows...footage of Bradman, Lillee, Viv Richards, etc but then body-line, under-arm, sand-papering...it shows the highs and lows, but like family we learn from the past and grow together...some stirring music in the background...maybe even imagery of watching cricket with our fathers, grandfathers, mothers, nana even rolling the arm over in the background etc.
Mukhtar
Guest
I can understand the batting collapses. SA bowlers are difficult enough, but without three of its best batsmen, Aussies were in for a hiding. The team was rocked with rifts - fallout of the ball tampering saga. The Aussies need to find the middle ground between competitiveness and boorishness. With the right leadership, and mentoring, Australia can be a respected cricketing side, not just a successful one (which they have been for the most part, for the last few decades).
Mukhtar
Guest
Loved the lyrics. Like the idea of a rallying cry for the public to adopt, as it falls back in love with the sport.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
How about something more in line with our cricket culture- It's a ball, try not to sand it or you'll make a speech that ends in tears. We're now gonna sledge in silence for we fear the end of test careers.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Perhaps, but for just as many it stirs up a whole lot of stomach contents.
Matt Sterne
Roar Rookie
lol exactly Paul! This was where the whole gripe came from... There will be a tacky campaign that focuses on big hits and sizzling game plays, nothing to do with the emotion and heart of the game. If ever there was a time where the brand needs a new image it's now. Fingers crossed common sense prevails and we at least see something.
Matt Sterne
Roar Rookie
Thanks Paul. Agreed - some type of public forum (apart from the stupid Facebook groups that are just about trolling and arguing) would be awesome. There are too many decisions made (eg. uniform design) etc without public input these days, another idea I have suggested many times to CA but they don't listen. Social media site with stories and posts about the 3 themes would be cool. Maybe I should make one of my own hah.
Matt Sterne
Roar Rookie
Hey Bill, not everyone's cup of tea I guess mate but for many I know it stirs up a whole lot of heart!
Paul D
Roar Guru
Great idea, you won't get it though What you will get - plenty of ads featuring other australian players, and lots of CGI added special effects every time someone hits a six or or knocks over a stump. Much as it has been these past ten years
Paul
Roar Guru
Love the concept Matt and I too hope CA is listening. It would be an opportunity for buy-in from the cricketing public if there was a social media site where people could post stories about fairness, inclusion, etc. CA could give away merchandise with some sort of logo featuring "fairness, pride and inclusion", both at first class games, but to kids teams. There's lots that could be done, lets hope CA does it!
Bill Peters
Roar Guru
I think your campaign idea is a terrific idea. But my goodness I dislike "You're the Voice". It is the equal of Daryl Braithwaite's "The Horses". Please don't make me spend a summer listening to either of those songs... lol
Bakkies
Guest
To me it was the woeful performances with the bat that stood out after the scandal broke. There have been some pathetic performances with the bat from this generation however to see an Aussie team basically give up bar a couple of blokes made me angry. It is not just the Cricketers who don't have the renowned fight that Aussie teams are known for just look at the Wallabies folding meekly against Scotland to a record defeat.