We’re not quite at the halfway mark of the Big Bash League this summer, but the narrative is well and truly set among cricket fans and people looking for something else to watch on TV.
“It just feels like the BBL has been going forever.”
And this is a curious thing.
As of Friday night’s win by the Adelaide Strikers over the Melbourne Stars in Adelaide, 27 games have been completed this summer.
Last summer, by Saturday 13 January 2018, there had been 28 games played in BBL07, and with the first ODI of the summer played on Friday 13 January 2017, 24 games had been played in BBL06.
So despite roughly the same number games having been played by the equivalent day and date in the last couple of years, the narrative is definitely there this summer, and it’s been there for a good week or more now.
‘There’s been way too many games this summer’; ‘It’s gone on way too long’; ‘The BBL is really dragging on this summer’.
This kind of comment has been commonplace; it’s popped up during radio conversations I’ve had, it’s definitely been said to me in regular conversation, too. It’s been said on social media, and we’ve definitely seen it in comments on these very pages.
But again, this summer’s competition actually started a day later than recent seasons, and despite playing a doubleheader on Christmas Eve – games had never been played on Christmas Eve before – we’ve still not actually played any more games than by the equivalent point in the summer.
In reality, it’s all about perception, and I’ll come back to this in a moment.
This summer, the BBL has been extended. So it will go on longer than any previous season. But this triple-header will only just get us beyond the halfway point of the competition, with BBL|08 extended out to 59 games in total (from last summer’s 43 games).
(AAP Image/Hamish Blair)
So if you reckon it was dragging before, it’s still got a way to go yet.
As for the perceptions, I’m in no doubt at all that they’re being driven by the quality of the competition, which is certainly down on recent years.
I mentioned in the last week or so that average first and second innings team scores are down by 12 to 15 runs per innings, and that individual scores were down, too.
It certainly feels like more batsmen are playing dumb shots to get out, but that’s my own perception. The fielding has definitely been poorer this season than in recent summers, though, and anyone following BBL games on social media and online blogs would no doubt have seen commentary along these lines.
When you are watching a game, and you don’t even have to watch a game in its entirety, there’s every chance you’ll bemoan the standard of the cricket being played.
But if perceptions quickly become reality, then Cricket Australia will be keenly taking note of the viewing numbers from today’s first ever BBL triple-header. We’ve had double-headers for years, but never three games on one day.
The Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers will kick us off in the afternoon at the Sydney Showground, the Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane Heat will follow down in Geelong early evening and then we’ll head west to take advantage of the time zones, with the Perth Scorchers hosting the Sydney Sixers.
Nearing the halfway mark in the BBL, all three games will be crucial for the teams involved. With only two wins separating first and sixth, and ditto second and eighth, no team can really afford to drop games from here. It’s from this point on that gaps opening up on the competition ladder can become fatal.
So from that point of view, Cricket Australia has timed the first use of three games back-to-back really well.
But with BBL|08 lasting from the week before Christmas right through until the final on February 17, Cricket Australia are also going to test the cricket public’s patience.
There are only three ODIs this summer, compared to the five plus one T20I interlaced with the BBL last summer. But last year’s BBL final was on the first Sunday in February, not a fortnight later.
So if Cricket Australia really do want to extend the BBL season out to almost 60 games, then a more judicious schedule is going to be in order.
Though the Seven Network’s ratings are down on Network’s Ten BBL numbers from last season, once you add in the Fox Sports numbers, it’s all pretty much equal. Crowds do appear to be down on last season, but that could easily be a matter of families now picking which games to go to in their city from more on offer than over recent seasons. Quality of cricket could easily be a factor, too; no doubt.
So if the TV numbers tomorrow remain strong through three games, then Cricket Australia should be looking at trying to reign the length of the season in a bit next summer by using more of these weekend triple-headers. The five time zones across the country in summer means that games can be stacked up and not have to start ridiculously early or late in any one city. They could even work well on New Year’s Day, for example, as well.
Doing this means the season could be pulled back in by upwards of a week, which given perceptions as they are already, could make a difference.
It will be interesting to see how the three games do go today from a TV point of view. We could be getting a glimpse of what BBL Saturdays or Sundays look like next summer.
sheek
Roar Guru
Chris, This is why it's important to have integrity in your life. Someone will always criticise you for something you do. But if you do it for the right moral reasons, then criticism is immaterial. CA is putting "profits before people". So naturally they're going to attract criticism, & it's difficult to defend their position, because while it's a 'profit maximum' position, it's not a 'welfare maximum' position. There are much more people in cricket to consider than just the 250-odd professional cricketers in Australia, & the God-knows-how-many suits at HQ.
Dean
Guest
A big difference this season is the T20 Internationals were played right at the start before BBL had even started. This was a bit like having dessert before main course. That's why some cricket fans are already feeling "full" only halfway through the BBL.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Hopefully the tripleheader is the future of the BBL. Schedule more of them! It'd get the tedious tournament over with faster.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Fair point. But look at the BBL crowds and tell me everything would be hunky dory if they shifted the season out of the school holiday period. It would be disastrous. Ain't gonna happen. Not without a gigantic shift in how the BBL is marketed in this country.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
The "Test cricket & Sheffield Shield" comment is an interesting one. I've seen lots of people commenting about how there should be Sheffield Shield being played while the test cricket is on, not BBL. But then, often those same people complain about having scheduling such that the test stars don't get to play much Shield cricket. So which is it? CA have the Shield scheduled such that we had 4 rounds of Shield cricket before the first test, meaning players have a great chance to push their case to play in the tests including multiple matches including players currently in the test squad. If Shield cricket was instead played at the same time as the tests, then there wouldn't be all those Shield matches at the start of the season where players could have a shot of proving their case before the first test. So CA are going to have people complaining whichever way they schedule it!
sheek
Roar Guru
Okay Machooka, I'll pay that.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Onya sheek... and I agree with most of what you said here in reply. But be buggered... I honestly thought I was disagreeing with something!?! Anyhow, gotta say though I think you got it wrong about A Jones... 'Often Jones is sensible, but sometimes he can be ridiculous.' Nah, shoulda been... ' Often Jones is ridiculous, but sometimes he can be sensible.' ;)
sheek
Roar Guru
Christo, "BBL will always be in January to coincide with school holidays". No, incorrect. Apart from death & taxes, everything else is subject to change. BBL didn't exist in 2010. Boxing Day tests weren't regular until 1980, with the exception of 1989. Sooner than you or I think, CA must address its lopsided domestic scheduling. Too many key figures in cricket are questioning why it is the way it is. CA might have to face a situation that what is "maximum revenue" is not "maximum benefit" for long-term well-being of Australian cricket. Already it is becoming clear that the ridiculous notion that BBL would work as a form guide for test selection is being disproven. Test cricket needs Sheffield Shield. Also, the boast by marketeers in 2015 that Sheffield Shield would be dead by 2018 hasn't happened. Test cricket needs Sheffield Shield. India have realised the same thing. As valuable a money spinner as IPL is, they need the Ranji Trophy to continue producing quality test players. As this fact dawns on more & more people, things will need to change. So nothing is forever, everything is subject to change. Some times, or many times, unfortunately so.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
This triple game yesterday was a great innovation similar to rugby when the Force was there. The crowds were good too. But is this the right time for the BBL. Apart from yesterdays exercise (and this should continue) wwhy does the Big Bash have to be held over the Christmas holidays? A recent article suggested that as most games are played at night and double and triple headers on weekends, why not plsy the BBL at the start of the season follwed by the Shield? The BBL is that poipular that it wouldn’t matter where it was played and last night’s ratings on Fox would show the support for the multi game set up loke last night.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
BBL will always be in January to coincide with school holidays. Check out the crowd – there are HEAPS of kids. If you moved the BBL away from the school holidays you’d kill the comp. The problem with your suggestion of running the SS at the same time as the BBL is that the WBBL games are often played at the same ground but earlier in the day. You’ve also got the problem of running two types of cricket at the same time – and drawing upon the same player pool. Much better to separate the styles, yes? SS – run from Oct to Christmas Tests – Nov to New Year BBL – Christmas to Australia Day State one-dayers/ODIs/T20s – Aus Day to end of Feb
sheek
Roar Guru
Paul Dawson, Quite right. If more people thought like me, the world would be a much better place.
sheek
Roar Guru
So Brett, Having taken a pile driver to the BBL/T20, here's a possible solution, although it requires some more thought. Generally I prefer to have an alternate answer to whatever I'm bagging, but the CA/broadcasters obsession with BBL has made it difficult to see another way. You can play Sheffield Shield right through December & January in conjunction with both tests & BBL. Shield matches can be held every Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri, starting at 10am local & finishing at 6pm local, except Friday, when the game will end at 5pm. The reason for the early finish on a Friday is to accommodate a BBL game at the same ground commencing at 6.30pm, & running through to 10pm. 90 minutes should be enough (hopefully) for ground staff to prepare markings on the alternate wicket for BBL. Then on the Sunday, you would have a full book of BBL matches around the country, staggered afternoon & evening to allow viewers to watch at least some of every match. Assuming there are four SS games on the during the week, concluding with a BBL match, then that also means each BBL franchise plays twice a week, effectively every Friday & Sunday. One obvious problem is the workload. If guys are playing both SS & BBL, then their only days off will be Mondays & Saturdays, & both of these days off will involve travel & transfers. Nevertheless, the test team's preparation is helped significantly without needing to move the BBL. Of course, this is only a compromise suggestion. I agree with Shane Warne, who argues the BBL should be brought forward to October-November. Or conversely, held back for February-March.
sheek
Roar Guru
Dwayne, Yes, prostitution is a better word than cancer. I'll accept that. The prostitution of administrators to their sport.
sheek
Roar Guru
Machooka, See, here we go (again). When someone says something that you don't like, "you", as in the masses, then you call it negativity. Have you heard of the devil's advocate, or the alternate voice? Humanity are like sheep, full of 'confirmation bias' & populist jingoism. Often what is missing is a voice that challenges the primacy of the status quo. It takes much more courage to disagree with something, than to just meekly go along with it. Me Trumpish????? Fake News! Be careful of tarring everyone with the Alan Jones brush (or like me & the millenials above). Often Jones is sensible, but sometimes he can be ridiculous. It pays to listen to the message, not the messenger. This way, you avoid prejudiciously pre-empting your feelings about somebody, or something worthwhile they might say.
sheek
Roar Guru
No Christo, It wasn't a loaded question. I explained my position. If you can't or won't accept that, then it's not my problem.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Ok, ok, ok you guys. I think what is meant is that 20/20 isn’t the problem. It is how it is managed. So maybe the right offensive word isn’t ‘cancer’. Maybe the right description is ‘prostitute’, or ‘selling it soul’. Lol. It is entertainment, just poorly managed
Paul D
Roar Guru
Standard old man commentary from Sheek about 20/20 cricket in this topic. Most of his complaints about cricket boil down to him being annoyed that the majority of people don't think like he does. I think that's very fortunate.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I think I read cricket surviving since about the 1880’s, Australian state cricket survived a pretty long time also. Sure the media money helps, but it survived when on the abc radio and tv. Yes the cash helped players become profession/ full time players. While I am not a scientist or studier of stuff but I do think 20/20 has affected test in players skills and game standard. Thus, a very probable leading to the ending of ‘tests’ being not watched because of poor standard. Not being scheduled because of people not watching. Leading to boards not putting the games on. That’s just one area.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Of course it was a loaded question sheek - how about just owning up to that? And trying to compare franchise-based T20 games with international games, whether it be in cricket or other sports is an unfair comparison. And I suspect you know that. While everyone is entitled to their opinions, your scathing views on the T20 format are almost exactly what I heard purists say about ODIs when they were first introduced. It would ruin Test match skills, it's the death of 'traditional' cricket (whatever that is!), blah blah blah... And yet here we are - Test cricket is still around, players still recognise that's the pinnacle of the game, etc etc. Is the cricket season perfect? Of course not. And with multiple forms of the game (4 day Shield games, 5 day Test matches, interstate ODIs, franchise T20s, international ODIs and T20 games, an club cricket in all its formats - I suspect the season will always annoy one particular group of fans. It's a problem that just about no other sport has. The administrators I'm sure are doing the best job they can of running the game. They will always have their critics. My feeling is that for the foreseeable future, we will have to learn to live with the multiple forms of the game. Hopefully the administrators will be able to tweak the schedule to provide a workable solution.
bazza200
Guest
Ryan H Playing everyone twice makes sense and home and away is taking away the draw advantages other codes have e.g. NRL or AFL so teams can have easy draws to make the top 2 which is massive advantage as that gives you a home final.