It has been about a week since the tournament ended, and I have to say this season of the Big Bash has felt a little bit flat.
Not since the days of the waning World Series has the Aussie cricket summer fizzled so meekly.
The India series, while a disappointing result for the home side, was great to watch, with the Australians desperately trying to break down an already broken Indian side – all to no avail, with arguably the greatest show of resilience and strength ever put up by a touring side Down Under. I’m an Aussie supporter through and through, but it’s hard not to admire what the Indians were able to achieve.
But this article is not about that.
This is about the BBL specifically – the competition that used to be a beacon during the summer, especially when our national team was dominating Test and ODIs (before the sandpaper, that is).
Here are a few ways we can improve what should be our centrepiece tournament.
Please note that I’m not going to have a go at umpires here. They are humans, and humans make errors – though I will say that the use of DRS is a no-brainer. If you have the technology, I think it should be used. And so does Mitch Marsh.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Reassess the gimmicks
The timeout
Look, I get it. The game needs to generate income, and that income is provided largely by television rights, and the television rights are based on how much ad space they can sell. I’m not saying they shouldn’t make money, and that is why the timeout is in place.
Why don’t I like it? It is called a ‘tactical timeout’. What tactics are being discussed? What is the point of getting the coach to come out with his assistants to tell the batsmen to make as many runs as they can as quickly as they can or for the fielders to come out and say “stop them from making runs so fast and try get them out”. I’ll admit that the nuances of elite-level cricket is not my forte, but I also feel some of the nuance is made up to justify the timeout.
If you need to sell ad space, just chuck on an extra ad or two after five, ten and 15 overs. We as consumers will understand.
The X factor
Cricket is 11 versus 11. When you select a side you take risks. There is no need for this, and I think it should go.
The power play and power surge
It added an extra dynamic to the games, so I’m happy to keep this as is.
Bash boost
Aside from the silly name, I do not mind bonus points as a concept. However, I was at a game this year where its enforcement was a bit farcical. Scorchers versus Renegades. Perth scored 185 in the first innings and had the opposition eight wickets down after ten overs. There was no chance Melbourne could win, but they were still awarded a point based on their 71 runs compared to the 63 Perth scored.
It just didn’t seem fair that Perth was effectively penalised because they started slowly. After all, they still got to 185. Surely a team should need to do better than 8-71 off ten to be awarded a point.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Game times
I understand the need to put games on at night during the week, but why not have more games during the day on weekends? I would be more than happy to go to a game that started at 11am or at 1pm or at anytime during the day really. To be honest, a 7pm start is a bit too late for me as well, as I need to get home and have some shut-eye before a big day at work the next day. Fortunately, being in Perth such late starts are a rarity, but we do have to leave work early to make the 4:15 start.
International players must be available
Something struck me during the T20 internationals against the South Africans last season. It was a fundamental problem that Aussie cricket fans should take issue with. There were players in the South African team that played more BBL games last summer than some of the Australians – Dale Steyn played four (and he left the tournament halfway through) while a couple of the Aussies didn’t play any.
We need our Australian players to be available for our marquee domestic tournament. I was a bit miffed this week when I saw Steve Smith had nominated for the IPL this year, especially as he had quickly dismissed the possibility of playing BBL. I’m no curmudgeon, but I think he should have put his hand up to play for the Sixers, even if it was just for a few games.
Marnus Labuschagne is a threat with the ball for the Heat. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Season length
The season is the right length, just at the wrong time. I have heard many people say the season is too long – 61 games over eight or so weeks was just too much for some people.
But there are only two ways a competition can maintain any semblance of fairness: have each team play each other twice, home and away, or have every team play each other only once. The latter is too short for the broadcasters, so the former is the way to go.
If it were up to me, I would adjust the summer schedule completely.
October
A domestic one-day competition leading to a five-game series against an international opponent in late October and early November.
November and December
A Test Series of five or six Tests running concurrently with the Shield and culminating with the Boxing Day Test.
January and February
The BBL leading into three T20 internationals.
With some thoughtful scheduling 61 games can be squeezed into five or six weeks.
Having the BBL on its own brings several benefits:
The Shield is on while the Tests are on, helping the availability of form players in the red-ball game.
- It frees up the internationals to play for their franchise.
- The international opposition in the Test series may stick around for our tournament.
- It provides a chance to play multiple day games as there will be no overlap with Test cricket.
- Having double and triple-headers throughout could hasten the tournament, thus negating the viewer fatigue felt.
Even if the powers that be change none of the above, I will still watch the games and I will still pay my membership.
But I believe the competition could be better.
Maybe get the AFL to run it – they love to mess around with stuff like this!
Hayden
Guest
Hi Peter Timeout should remain in exchange for Drinks not allowed to be run out in between balls and overs. X Factor get rid of it. Bash Boost should occur in a super over when the losing team gets 1 point and the winning team gets 3 points. Power Surge overs should be fixed at overs 11 and 12 after timeout. Season Length 12 Home and Away Matches plus current IPL 4 Match Finals Structure Total 52 Matches.
Gary David
Roar Rookie
I agree with almost everything you have said including the ideal summer schedule. But there are 3 World Cups in the next three years in October-November. That squeezes our summer and makes the tests have to spill over into January, cutting the chance for a BBL window.
Gary David
Roar Rookie
Fair, but it's only been 10 years. It takes time for people to care about these "franchises". I think kids growing up now will care in the next generation. Even I myself am starting to grow an affinity for the Melbourne Stars. I guess I just feel at home with a mega team failing in finals (I'm a Collingwood fan).
Paul Saikia
Guest
BBL should take a leaf out of the IPL & schedule the tournament at the end of the domestic season if possible.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Have to agree with you John, although I must admit I haven’t watched any BBL for about three years, it began to annoy me. Peter’s suggestion in the article about playing Shield cricket coinciding with the Tests concerns me in as much as it’s bad enough now our Test players rarely play for their states, with his system they won’t play at all.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
More teams, Canberra, NZ, Geelong and QLD and a proper finals format two semi finals and a grand final. keep it simple.
Peter85
Roar Rookie
I have turned from an every night viewer in the early years to a casual one unless the Thunder (aka my local cricket team) are playing. I would say that it is the every night factor along with the many competing forms of cricket and usually tennis to compete directly for my sporting interest. Earlier on the star names were more recognisable which helped with the interest levels. I would also guess that the players, especially imports, get more $ per week for a shortened version which allows them to earn elsewhere or return to first class teams earlier.
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
It's too long because the players say it's too long. Hence many don't come.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
One thing I've always been curious about is why an 8 week tournament is too long for the BBL. No one says the six month+ long AFL or NRL tournaments are too long. I do think there are issues which come with a longer tournament, such as international player availability and games outside of school holidays. I guess I'm curious why people say they are fatigued by a two month tournament - is it because it's on every night vs weekly games in the football codes?
Rellum
Roar Guru
NSW romping it home....unfortunately.
Rellum
Roar Guru
That an't good enough really. Maybe if it was a COVID related change but this is the first yer in long time we get the two comps along side each other which is great but the one day comp is likely the one to slowly bring the crowds back and they need to be on the weekends.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I think they like to program the one dayers with a two day break either side of the Shield game just like they used to do. Hence when the mighty Bulls have hopefully defeated Tasmania by this Saturday, their one day game will be played two days later on Monday.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Big wicket for NSW there. If Harris could have kept going then they were in the box seat. On the usual why CA, why is this game on a Monday and not the Sunday?
Anth
Roar Rookie
Totally understand Barry, the BBL is completely devoid of nuance. As I said I will have a look at the IPL every now and then, and as a product it is light years ahead of the BBL. I don’t know what is more disturbing; the fact that CA have thrown their eggs so completely into the T20 basket, or the basket they have chosen is so inferior to what it should be, and ultimately detracts from the state of Australian cricket across the board.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Hoping the Vics turn this around. Cummins is proving a real challenge for them. He will be out of the attack soon and the Vics can get back into the chase.
Tony
Roar Guru
You're obviously hacking the CA emails
Tony
Roar Guru
I'm with you Anth. I love cricket but wouldn't be bothered watching BBL. Just doesn't grab me at all.
Anth
Roar Rookie
Decent article Peter. Look I am very much a traditionalist, am happy to watch Test cricket all day everyday. Personally I have not watched a BBL match in the last three or four years and that’s no necessarily because I am completely averse to T20 cricket. I will tune into the IPL occasionally when it’s on. The BBL is very much a poor cousin in comparison; there are too many grade cricketers getting a game, the games seem to drag on (it’s T20, if it starts at 7 o’clock, it should be done and dusted comfortably by 10), the local teams are contrived and are an antithesis to the tribal attitude Australians adopt when supporting teams whether it be footy, cricket or whatever. CA are obviously going to stick with it, so while I don’t necessarily like it; they need to get it right. Sort out the scheduling, get it super professional and invest in structuring it whereby one can get passionate about a team and the game as a whole.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Peter. Good ideas. My crystal ball says C.A. will keep trying, adding and putting in more gimmicks. C.A. will ‘increase’ the games having a short window of 3 and a half week a year off season rest. 251 games round and finals. C.A. will love Aust stars and internationals to play. Aust players will miss BBL and Shield cause of burnout and the fact they had appointments in IPL comps. C.A. will will have the ‘gimmick’ of the ‘crowd member super sub’ due to players unavailable. C.A. will organise the Aust summer to be full triple headers 20/20, first game starting at 8pm. C.A. Will have tests playing Ind and Eng every alternate year (4 tests each) and the other nations squeezed in once each over the next 42 years for one test each outside of summertime.
Peter85
Roar Rookie
Hi Peter - overall I feel like you have hit most issues in a really good way. My comments on each one would be; The gimmicks - time-out - no real opinion, if it meant no drinks etc delivered between overs then great. As you touched on the advertising space needs to be maximised so could look at some kind of passive alternative between balls similar to the news ribbons. - X-Factor - get rid of it, keep the rules as close as possible to international rules - Bash boost - tinker with this, currently it is too much of a boost, but could be better used as a tie-breaker for table position Game times - This doesnt affect me much, 7pm starts are good on weekdays. Double headers should happen on weekends. Should also use the advantage of the Perth time difference to play some weekday double headers to give Perth a proper home night game time. Maybe start these at 6:30 and 9:30 eastern time. International players must be available - This is either #1 or #2 issue. You need the Australian test contingent (14 players) and access to international players for the majority of the tournament to raise the quality. I feel the trade off is in season length. Season length - I disagree with you here, the 8 week window is about 3 weeks too long. Maintaining interest for so long and the importance of each game is diminished with a longer schedule. There are currently 56 regular season and 5 play-off games. I would like to see this at 40-48 regular season games (5-6 home games each). A second alternative is 2 extra teams, play everyone once plus a rivalry round gets you to 50 games. Each team goes from 14 to 10 games to assist in reducing length. Adding in test players should offset the quality dilution of adding teams. - I mostly agree with the calendar and feel that the typical season should focus on tests for December to New Years test in January, a small overlap with Big Bash starting Boxing Day and running through to end of January (regular season in school holidays). - Your final summary points seem spot on