Four games into the tenth season of the Big Bash and the interest of the tournament has gone for me.
When the BBL began in 2011, it was meant to pioneer a generation of new cricket fans in Australia. And it worked well.
The tournament went in between the school holidays around Australia, and the final would be played by the end of week one of the new school term.
But now, the tournament keeps on dwindling away from quality and focusing on gimmicks, which aren’t required in the BBL.
With BBL08 copying the IPL in terms of a 14-game regular season for each team, the lack of crowds was glaringly obvious to see on TV screens.
With the tournament going from mid-December into mid-February, fans and players were clearly frustrated, with players such as Sandeep Lamichhane playing a whole season in the 2019 Bangladesh Premier League before coming back to play the rest of BBL08.
BBL09 was lengthened into a 61-game season, with golden caps introduced for the leading run scorer and the leading wicket taker.
(Brett Hemmings – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Again, the biggest problem was not aligning the tournament with the end of week one of the new term. In fact, there was a five-day gap between the Knockout and the Challenger. How is anyone meant to keep interest in a T20 tournament if there’s a five-day gap between games?
When Cricket Australia announced that BBL10 would have a maximum of three overseas players in each playing XI, the competition finally seemed to be heading towards the right direction. But then came the three rules that still make no sense to me.
First, there’s the power surge where the mandatory powerplay is reduced from the first six overs to the first four, with the power surge of two overs set to be used after the 11th over by the batting side.
Then there’s the bash boost. Whichever team scores more runs after ten overs receives a bonus point. And finally, the X factor player, where the 12th and 13th man can sub in for a batsman who hasn’t faced a ball or a bowler who hasn’t bowled more than one over after the tenth over of each innings.
Having seen parts of the four BBL games so far, none of the new rules make sense nor have they had any great significance towards improving the quality of the Big Bash.
As Usman Khawaja tweeted last month, the BBL has been used to introduce a new set of cricket fans. So how does complicating the rules in a sport that is hard to explain to non-cricket fans make any sense?
The lack of focus on what made the BBL successful in the past will cost CA heavily. I’ve been following the BBL since its inception, but this season I’ve preferred to watch the India A versus Australia A tour game and the New Zealand versus West Indies Test series over the BBL.
While I highly doubt it’ll happen next season, here is the best way to get the BBL to the great heights it was from BBL03-BBL07.
• 40-game regular season with each team playing ten games
• Four playoff games (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, Final)
• Align the whole BBL from the last week of the term in December to the end of week one of the new term
• Get rid of the three rules introduced from BBL10
• Three foreigners in the playing XI to attract interest from overseas
• Introduce DRS so that howlers are removed
Cricket is a game of 11 versus 11, not 13 versus 13. If Cricket Australia wants the BBL to compete with other T20 leagues, then they need to stop bringing in more gimmicks and focus more on improving the quality of the tournament.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Jacks is English but Manenti is a Sydney boy.
Bludger
Guest
That's what we had in the first place. They should just have it as a part of the domestic season, and bring back the World Series Cup in January. Make it a 40 overs a side competition. Too many club cricketers in BBL. Not enough internationals.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Love the one game to regional parts. Enjoyed the alice spring wickets as batsmen have to grind out runs
Bludger
Guest
The old state based teams date back to the 19th century decades before federation. They got 50,000 turn up to Victoria v. Tasmania at the MCG in the final year of the original BBL. So, it was doing better. Instead they had to go and setup non cricket venues like Docklands and Homebush at massive cost when you had established grounds already. It was always going to peak. Eventually when people saw through the smoke and mirrors it was a competition lacking most international players, and with the extra two 'clubs' it was basically a glorified all star version of the state's district cricket competitions. Too late now, it is in terminal decline exactly like state cricket in the 1980s. With the top players not playing, it loses its star attractions. I love cricket and I don't bother watching 20/20 because of this. I am happy to wait for the internationals. Golf needs to watch itself. With the same clown in charge, even the little golf has left in Australia is at risk of destruction with million dollar bonus man in charge.
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Yep, that is the issue. I know we can't have windows for every T20 league that pops up around the world, but you would think Aust, as one of the Big 3, could throw some weight around and get international tours played outside the BBL window.
Mick Jeffrey
Roar Rookie
I'm guessing the Hobart games are to make up for no international games being played there this season....
James Thompson
Roar Rookie
I've seen the Bash Boost on-screen graphic come up one time and my first thought was, "Oh gosh, what silly stunt are we putting in now?" I thought the bat flip was a little strange but fairly harmless. This is on a hell of another level.
boonboon
Roar Pro
The gimmicks are fine, the lack of covid crowds is a one off thats hurting them but the real issue is a lack of star power both locally and internationally. It needs stars - big name players who can talk a good game and play a good game with signifcant int careers.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
These were some of the players in a typical Perth Scorchers team from season 1. Most still remain very well known names: -Shaun Marsh -Marcus North -Mitchell Marsh -Paul Collingwood -Simon Katich -Luke Ronchi -Nathan Coulter-Nile -Brad Hogg
CJ
Guest
Could not agree more - after seeing the new gimmicks in action, I have completely tuned out to watch the Aus A v India and NZ v WI games, and have no desire to watch another game including over the holidays when I used to watch most games. Holds no interest for a long standing fan, and will hold no interest for newcomers. Such a shame they extended the season, and now this. The competition was flying a few years back. Needs to be sorted out next year, or will die a quick death. Hopefully the empty crowds and people turning off their TV sets will do the trick.
JGK
Roar Guru
And now McAndrew is first change.
JGK
Roar Guru
Tonight we have Cook and Green (Chris, mot Cameron) opening the bowling to Bryant and Heazlett. Not sure if those are the names needed to generate interest in the tournament.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
Good article and agree with everything you said. Here are my ways to 'fix' the BBL: - Each team plays 10 matches each. Each team plays 5 home games and 5 away games, however each team takes a game to somewhere else. For example: - Brisbane Heat takes 1 match to the Gold Coast. - Hobart Hurricanes takes 1 match to Launceston. - Sydney Sixers takes 1 match to Coffs Harbour. - Sydney Thunder takes 1 match to Canberra. - Melbourne Stars takes 1 match to Moe. - Melbourne Renegades takes 1 match to Geelong. - Perth Scorchers takes 1 match to Alice Springs. - Adelaide Strikers play all 5 home games at Adelaide Oval (unless there's another regional place they can take a match too). - Top 4 finals series. 1st v 2nd and 3rd v 4th. Winner of 1st v 2nd goes straight to the Grand Final and the loser plays the winner of 3rd v 4th. The loser of 3rd v 4th is eliminated. Winner plays the team who went straight to the grand final. - No day games on weekdays. Afternoon matches should only be played on Saturday and Sunday. Many people can't make it due to work on weekdays and effects attendances. Not to mention the usually hot weather fans and players have to deal with during the day. - All games televised live and free on Channel 7. Ch7 payed for the rights of the BBL and therefor televise every game LIVE. - Season to start and finish during the whole 7 or 8 week block of school holidays. This will increase crowds as kids don't have school and adults take time off during the summer months.
Tom
I assume you are talking about Banton? Bit harsh, he’s a 21yr old kid who has been in bio bubbles and quarantine with the England side and in the IPL since June and hasn’t once gone back home until now. Nothing wrong with him pulling out to go back home for a bit in my opinion.
matth
Roar Guru
Well said, I couldn’t agree more.
Dean F
Guest
Combination of things mean I have not watched any BBL this year and won't watch. Absence of star power, better T20 comps in other parts of the world, target demographic is children. To top it all of CA and the players are trying to divide the audience further by getting involved in political issues. No thanks. Too many other things to do in life.
Brian
Guest
I get they needed 8 teams but then go all the way and have the same 8 in the shield. Also would it hurt to being in 2 NZ teams for some variety. Finally the whole thing should start the week before Xmas and end in January
Nick
Roar Guru
Hmm...I do agree, but I have sympathy for those with bubble fatigue. Australia was incredibly lucky. Victoria aside, the worst of the lockdown measures were significantly tamer compared to those overseas. We in Singapore endured 10 weeks of a hard lockdown. It was necessary and very successful, but I'd hate the idea of doing it again. It was mentally destroying. Asking players from countries who experienced severe lockdowns and bubbles to then fly to a relative flu free paradise to have to still live in a bubble would be a hard task. I get why some have thrown in the towel.
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
Why would the go back to the old state based tournament? The old state based tournament was nothing more than a fringe competition that had numbers on par with the A-League. Even when they started to BBL in 2011 it only had moderate success, it became a mainstream competition in 2013 when it moved to channel 10. The tournament worked well when played within the school holiday period of December/January. Many believe that the BBL peaked in 2015/16, that season had 35 games the final was played on the 24th of January The 2018/19 season had 59 games the final was played on the 17th if February, pretty sure that's you're main problem.
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
The BBL needs to be played during the December/January school holiday period in order to get more families to watch, playing it in November wouldn't make any sense.