Sport has been the one constant throughout major world events, with the exception of both World Wars and the current climate that coronavirus has created.
The postponement of the NBA on March 11 forced the entire world into realising the seriousness of the coronavirus epidemic and the impacts it can have.
The subsequent cancellation of every US sports league and then eventually the cricket, AFL and NRL seasons in Australia was a devastating consequence of this virus that made every sport-mad fan across the world be forced into finding other hobbies and something outside of sport to give their lives meaning.
It got me thinking about what a potential summer season of cricket would look like, with an extraordinarily low chance of the virus being gone by the summer meaning that top-level cricket matches are going to look very different.
Cricket Australia has a golden opportunity to revamp the domestic and first-class competitions that Australian fans have been pleading for ever since the Big Bash League took over as the main domestic competition in Australia.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The success of both Australia and New Zealand in flattening the coronavirus curve in their respective countries opens the opportunity of a travel bubble between the two countries and a potential super competition with teams from both countries.
For this article, I’m assuming that we live in a perfect world where money isn’t really an issue, and there is a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand.
I’m proposing to Cricket Australia and Cricket New Zealand that a domestic competition where all six Australian domestic teams and all six New Zealand domestic teams partake in a 12-team competition.
Four-day games, one-dayers, and T20s are all played, with different formats being worth different points, and the team with the most amount of points being the eventual winners.
Four-day games would be worth six points for a win, three points for a tie, and one point for a draw or an abandoned match. A one-day game is worth four points for a win, two point for a tie, and one point for an abandoned match. A T20 game is worth two points for a win and one point for a tie.
Each team plays a total of 62 games across all formats, with 12 four-day games, 20 one-dayers, and 30 T20s. Each team plays each other a minimum of four times across any format, twice at home and twice away. The season runs from the beginning of September to the end of March.
That equates to 98 days of cricket for each team, assuming all four-day games go the distance. It’s a super competition that opens up the possibility of mouth-watering match-ups, such as Kane Williamson versus Steve Smith, Matt Wade versus Neil Wagner, and Steve Smith versus Tim Southee. That would be seen on a daily basis.
(AAP Image/Michael Dodge)
If games were spread out and scheduled properly, there could be cricket being played almost every day.
It means that fans can actually get behind their respective domestic teams and properly support them, with full-strength domestic teams being on display every single day.
Australia and New Zealand have the opportunity to make their respective state competitions an enjoyable product that people want to watch and follow, instead of the gimmicky Big Bash League.
Shane Watson himself recently came out and stated that the product of the BBL was declining and was focusing more on entertainment and antics rather than the cricket itself.
Will this happen? Probably not, as it would most likely be too expensive, and Cricket Australia in particular has shown in recent years that their main focus is money and cash grabs.
Julian Ponsonby-Smythe
Guest
What about Glen Trimble ? A great 80s player.
If India can't tour end of year due to travel restrictions, then might have no choice other than a Kiwi test tour round two. If that happens, lets hope they atone for last years debacle.
thanksbasil
Roar Rookie
100% the BBL has to be expanded. It should've been expanded a couple years ago. Having a combined Australia and New Zealand BBL would be unbelievable.
thanksbasil
Roar Rookie
Oh for sure. A full-strength NSW XI with the likes of Smith, Warner, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon vs a full-strength Northern Districts (Hamilton area) side featuring the likes of Williamson, Watling, Boult, Santner, Wagner, DeGrandhomme would be unbelievable. And imagine if a young, up and coming player performs in that game? That'd surely put them on the map. In terms of the T20 games, that was a bit of a stretch from me to suggest that they'd go away from the BBL. I do still think CA should focus on the one-dayers and 4-day games because they'd be able to make it good entertainment with high-quality cricket being played. If they made the product and quality of cricket the number one focus in the 4 and 1 dayers then they could potentially move on later to the gimmicky BBL.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Agreed.. It’s a bit like saying WWE wrestling tournaments should focus on the wrestling cause that’s what it’s fans really want to see and leave out the showbiz and gimmicks. :silly:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Yes, I miss those tri-series. I didn't mind watching those ODI's as a neutral when the touring sides came here.
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
be interesting if it happened with home and away games between both countries
matth
Roar Guru
I'd think the more likely scenario is the usual domestic calendar, with maybe one or two invitational NZ sides for the 50 over games, but that probably wouldn't be profitable. A couple of BBL teams might be possible, although you would have to resolve the question of any NZ players currently contracted to BBL teams. The red ball games are more likely to be a traditional test series (if India don't come). In that space even if India do tour I could see NZ playing in the smaller venues and then Australia making a reciprocal tour in February/March. What I would like to see for old time's sake, is an invitation to the Black Caps 50 over team, which is currently possibly the best in the world, to join India and Australia for an old fashioned three way contest, like we used to have.
Reddy
Roar Rookie
Cricket in September in New Zealand is pretty difficult mainly due to the weather conditions. The earliest the black caps have played in their history was against South Africa quite a few years ago in october. The general black caps summer of cricket on home soil runs from the middle of November through to the end of march. We have played through to the beginning of April before but in April there is the problem with dew on the cricket ball. In regards to BBL I'm quite keen for New Zealand to scrap the domestic t20 comp and have all 6 NZ sides join and Australia add Canberra, a second Perth side and Gold Coast to the mix. I'm keen to watch BBL at Seddon park, hamilton. Although the ground might be a little too small.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Basil, I think aspects of your article have merit and would be very doable, depending what happens with the IPL and the Indian tour. Both the 4 day games and the ODI's could be a possibility, especially if the Black Caps don't have any international cricket planned for their summer ( I couldn't see anything planned for the 20/21 summer at this stage). I can't see the T20 idea being considered, simply because of the contractual arrangements in place for the BBL. Maybe a couple of Kiwi sides could play in that?? I agree the BBL is probably in decline, but it's still a CA cash cow, along with the Boxing Day & New Years Day Tests. As you say a matchup of a full strength NSW XI against a side with some top class Black Cap players would be almost as good as watching a Test, I'd reckon.
Micko
Roar Rookie
"Shane Watson himself recently came out and stated that the product of the BBL was declining and was focusing more on entertainment and antics rather than the cricket itself". Ummm, that's what the BBL always was. :laughing: It's just their killing the goose by extending the season too long, where the gimmicks and antics wear thin.