I suspect that it would be hard to find T20 cricket-related news stories or social media posts in Australia without the words, “it’s not real cricket” peppering the comment sections.
Cricket “fans” are once again resorting to this self-congratulatory and elitist derision of T20 cricket only decades after the same was said about One Day cricket – once referred to as the “pyjama” version of the game – and it demonstrates once again humanity’s inherent self-obsession.
“Back in my day…” You can fill in the blank with almost anything.
Are we allowed new Star Wars movies? No, of course not. Only the originals are “real” Star Wars. Is new music any good? Are electric vehicles okay? Should we have more drink breaks in sport? If you follow that train of thought, definitely not.
So, good luck, though, to anyone who wants to define what “real cricket” is. In most cases that term is, of course, a reference to five-day Test cricket – which, as a note, is definitely my preferred form of cricket.
So, presumably Sheffield Shield and English County cricket don’t make the cut. Or maybe it’s a reference to multi-day cricket matches with six balls an over – which means “real cricket” didn’t really begin until the late 70s. Or maybe it was the days of four-ball overs? Or five-balls?
Presumably, the answer is a little more subjective and “real cricket” must have four innings and be played over multiple days.
Disappointing, then, for all those kids learning to play cricket who never get to play “real cricket” on the weekend.
Of course, anyone willing to stop and think for a moment can recognise the absurdity of trying to impose “real” on anything – be it cricket, Star Wars or cars.
In the end, those crying for the “real” anything are only interested in that which meets and fulfils their subjective expectations and preferences – anything that fails to meet those criteria isn’t “real”.
Making the case for T20 cricket, then, is fighting the human instinct of ‘me, me, me’, and must therefore rely on objective facts rather than subjective preferences. As with Star Wars and electric vehicles, only the end demand for the product will demonstrate the value of the product.
So let’s actually look at some of the numbers that might give us a clue as to what people outside of the insular self-righteous cricket comment section bubble are thinking about T20 cricket.
I reached out to Cricket Australia, Foxtel, and Channel Seven for TV ratings and crowd size information but received no response. So I have instead had to rely on the publicly available information they have sporadically made available.
The resulting TV ratings aren’t always complete, but they do give a pretty clear picture of the overall for the past two years and hint at the growth over the past decade.
A good example is the numbers from across the Foxtel Group (including Foxtel, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go, and Kayo Sports), BBL12, which was the Big Bash League season for 2022-23, there was an average viewership of 248,000 per game – a 33% year-over-year increase on the previous BBL11.
During BBL12, the top three games drew viewership of 377,000 (Sixers v Thunder), 353,000 (Renegades v Stars), and 336,000 (Sixers v Scorchers).
Free-to-air numbers from Channel Seven aren’t as clear for the whole BBL12 season, with one report claiming “linear TV channels” generated an average of 532,000 per game during BBL12, “the highest of any Australian sports league on a per-game basis.”
For the BBL12 final which saw the Perth Scorchers beat Brisbane Heat, Channel Seven viewership hit 502,000 while total viewership across Seven, Foxtel, and streaming services including Kayo reached an average of around 1.3 million – a 30% increase on the 2021-22 final between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
In terms of actual attendance at the games during BBL12, total attendance across the 61 games reached around 1 million – including 53,886 fans who watched the final at Optus Stadium.
Things started just as strong in 2023-24 for BBL13, with 1.9 million tuning into Seven and 7Plus alone for the opening game between Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars.
By January 10, 8.2 million people had watched the BBL on Seven/7Plus over around 30 matches, while Kayo’s viewership over the first 37 matches had increased 16% year-over-year, making it the most streamed BBL ever on the platform.
A highlight for the season was Aaron Finch’s farewell match against the Melbourne Stars, which was exclusive to Fox and hit 170,000 Kayo streams – the largest streaming audience of all time for a regular season game.
By the season’s end, 9.4 million people had tuned in to Seven/7Plus to watch BBL13 with a national season average viewership of 492,000, while Foxtel and Kayo’s average audience for Big Bash games was 235,000.
Attendance for BBL13 matched that seen in BBL12 – somewhat impressive, considering the number of games played dropped by 20. Similarly, the final between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers drew a crowd of 43,153, the biggest ever in Sydney in the history of the competition.
According to Cricket Australia, average crowds attending BBL13 matches increased by 27% to an average of 20,184, with six sold-out matches and crowds of over 40,000 in another five matches for the first time since 2017-18 (BBL06).
Just as important was news that a record-breaking 95,124 fans attended matches throughout WBBL09, making this the highest-attended season since the competition went standalone in 2019.
As far as my research could show, there is no official data for the T20 matches played between Australia and the West Indies, except for attendance data from AusStadiums, which reported 19,891 people attended the second T20I at Adelaide Oval, and only 17,018 attended the third at Optus Stadium.
Data was similarly lacking for Foxtel’s viewership for the Test matches over the latest Summer, with only a single report claiming Foxtel said its average audience across Foxtel and Kayo for Test cricket was 306,000 while its average audience for Big Bash games was 235,000.
Channel Seven was a little more forthcoming with their viewership numbers for the Test Summer, with the third Test coverage reaching 4.9 million people nationally with a daily average peak audience of 1.1 million.
The first Test between Australia and the West Indies was not as impressive, reaching a total of 3.8 million people with a daily peak audience of 879,000, while the second Test did much better, reaching 6.7 million people nationally over the whole Test and an average TV audience of 875,000 across the four days.
It is no real surprise that Test cricket over Australia’s Summer drew bigger overall TV audiences – much bigger, considering we only have Channel Seven viewership numbers, and nothing really from Foxtel: It’s an international sport condensed into only a few days – as compared to a domestic competition run over two months.
In that regard, it’s a little of an apples-and-oranges comparison – one would have hoped that Test matches would beat BBL viewership.
But as a case for demonstrating the possibility that not everyone dismisses T20 cricket as not being “real cricket”, the fact that the Big Bash generates regular viewership and attendance in the tens of thousands across a two-month period says quite a lot about how many Australians view T20 cricket.
As one final capper on this data-driven experiment, 19,603 New Zealanders turned up to Sky Stadium in Wellington on a Wednesday night to watch Australia successfully chase down 216 off the final ball, packing the stadium to over half of its capacity on a work and school night.
So maybe, the next time you feel the urge to deride T20 cricket as not being “real cricket”, take a few moments, breathe, and remember that the world doesn’t revolve around you.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, I was being too grumpy. But I still don’t get why you call such people selfish, self-obsessed, childish or nonsensical. It’s a legitimate argument for them to say it’s not real cricket in the sense of being an inferior form of the game. As long as they don’t get too over the top or abusive. Although if people think T20 is destroying the best parts of the game, you can see why they might be hostile. For my part, I’d get rid of ODIs now. Trouble is, it’s probably the best way to hold a cricket World championship! The T20 version is a bit of a joke and the WTC doesn’t have the same cachet as a tournament competition.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Thanks for a great article, well researched and well written. I think that, other than participation numbers, the viewership figures and ratings do provide a good measure. As an aside, I coach and umpire juniors a Premier Club in Victoria. Most of our kids watch all the cricket formats (they play modified 20/20 to the end of under 12 and play 2 day and t20 games at u14) I chatted with the captain of the seconds (they play all three formats) who once told me he loves watching all forms but prefers playing the two day games, simply cos there’s more cricket. I think cricket is incredibly well placed with three high profile products. Rugby Union have the 15 and 7 player games, with 7s an Olympic sport. It caters to diverse markets and audiences. I think there are challenges to getting the balance right at times, and making sure the big names are round to make them authentic but I generally feel there is a valid spot for T20 cricket.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Actually here in South Africa T20 has become huge …For a whole generation of new converts its the only cricket there is ..The domestic 3 day game is a shambles and for years now unable to secure even a sponsor ..Test Cricket is clearly dying too. Witness our recent Test tour to NZ where a C team was selected allowing the big name players to stay home to play T20..Whether I like it or not thats where its all heading ..
Mick Jeffrey
Roar Rookie
Any article or press release related to (much less quoting) ratings figures will be irrelevant until February next year given the changes in how ratings are measured, and we'll never know accurately how subscription figures are as they aren't ever going to be released as part of official figures, meaning anything released by streaming providers can be seen as spin as much if not more than fact. Plus given the bean counters in head office no longer care about crowd figures (haven't done so since 2020, if not before) knowing the income is substantially derived from media rights I'd also suggest crowds almost don't matter either. And if we're being honest only the diehards in Australia would have known about the 20 over series across the ditch, and more world attention now and in future seasons would be on the South African league (with the direct IPL linkage) than the BBL. And no I didn't watch a single ball of the BBL as I haven't done since the move to franchises, and couldn't tell you who won without google assistance.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
For you anytime :stoked:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Dumb & Dumber is still a classic JN. Maybe give it another shot? :thumbup:
Rusty Brooks
Roar Rookie
Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’, that’s goddam right.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Certainly. It’s all just conversation. The game in every form is about entertainment. When it’s not entertaining , no one wants to watch it.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
The Shawshank Redemption actually tanked at the box office when it was first released..Conversely Dumb and Dumber was a huge success ....I've actually watched both of them ..Only one of them did I care to rewatch numerous times over the years .....And it wasnt Dumb and Dumber :stoked:
Joshua S Hill
Roar Rookie
Read the article mate: I prefer Test cricket – it’s right there at the top. The argument wasn’t taking aim at those of us who prefer Test cricket – otherwise I’d have been indicting myself first and foremost. It was a repudiation of those who dismiss T20 cricket as “not real cricket” – which, as I made quite clear, is a) a nonsensical argument and b) selfish, arrogant, and childish. There’s plenty of cricket to go around – as the Test match viewership numbers clearly demonstrate, which are themselves better than T20. I appreciate your trying to see through to the value of T20 cricket, but maybe read the article I wrote, not the article you think I wrote? A lot of your comments are reading something I didn’t say.
Linphoma
Roar Rookie
I compare it to any American awards ceremony. The Oscars and Grammys will announce some movie, recording, artist and then champion how many copies or box office sales it generated. Is that to say awarding artistic merit translates to revenue generated?
MM
Roar Rookie
Coldplay and Nicki Minaj sell bucketloads of albums. Marvel movies make hundreds of millions. Popularity is not the same as quality, let alone worth. Sometimes the nonsense that occupies the masses is drivel. But each to their own.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
One of the more illogically and offensively argued articles I’ve seen. No need to waste several hundred words on viewing figures. We all know, or should, that T20 is popular - that’s why they invented the BBL and the IPL and broadcasters pay top dollar for the TV rights. It brings in a lot of extra fans who don’t have the time, the inclination or often the experience to watch or enjoy Test cricket. But what is this straw man of “self-congratulatory and elitist derision of T20 cricket”. “It demonstrates once again humanity’s inherent self-obsession.” What on earth is that supposed to mean? The actual meaning of the words is - humanity is obsessed with itself and the concerns of humanity, rather than say whales, trees, distant planets etc. I think you meant human beings are obsessed with themselves, individually, but that doesn’t seem anything much to do with preferences in cricket. People who prefer Test cricket see it as more “real” usually do so because it is a greater Test of all skills (except six-hitting and catching in the deep), something that many international cricketers recognise, and involves a whole lot more nuances and challenges in the course of a game as conditions change. There is a whole lot more resonance with the history of the game. T20 is a whole lot more hit and miss simply because it only lasts 20 overs and it is often instantly forgettable,, due to so many matches. But what does saying that have to do with being self-obsessed or elitist? Test cricket probably is dying a slow death. I personally enjoy T20 even if some of the six-hitting relies too much on big bats with big edges and small boundaries - see T Head last nights. The outfielding is a real highlight. I wouldn’t write it off as not real cricket. But people who do prefer Tests can hardly be dismissed as elitist or self-obsessed and certainly not because T20 has better viewing figures!
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
An agree to disagree moment, Panthers. You certainly make very valid points about some of the benefits this game has produced, but IMO it's a sports entertainment which has its place alongside others of the same type.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Who hasn’t turned off many days of test cricket , when it’s been so incredibly slow & boring? There’s a lot to be said for getting to a result quite quickly. T20 has saved cricket , brought in new viewers to the game . Injected huge amounts of money into the game. Given many players a new avenue to greater earnings in a short amount of time . Let’s not forget how many experts have suggested making tests 4 days , to hurry things up. They’ve also brought in night tests to bring in a different angle of it , to increase viewership. A different coloured ball & helmets . New shots are being played in test cricket, as a direct result of T20 cricket. Different players have been brought into test cricket teams as a direct result T20 cricket. Nothing is beyond change or modifications , for whatever reasons. Cricket is cricket & cricket authorities everywhere would be saying, ‘Thank Goodness For T20 Cricket’!
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Not sure what that last sentence was about but anyway........ I suspect many, like me, see T20 cricket as a contrived version of the sport, with all manner of rule changes deliberately designed to heighten the fan experience. Just as WWE can be called wrestling, so the version known as T20 can be called cricket. Is it cricket? Sorta, Kinda. Can "proper" cricketers play it? Sure but so can guys not quite good enough to play the "proper" version. Does it attract viewers? Sure but is that a real test of whether T20 is cricket or a sports entertainment similar to a WWE show? I know what I think but then again, the whole world doesn't revolve around me.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
Pointing to viewership number to justify a position just doesn't prove the point.
Lance Boil
Roar Rookie
Firstly, I can't switch off a test match but often do during T20 telecasts. I have always loved 50 over internationals but don't get to watch much because paywalIs. I don't think T20 is not Cricket however, calling the game "Big Bash" suggests rather emphatically, it's something else.
Woody
Roar Rookie
Cricket is cricket, and the massive profits made by foxtel etc should further ram home the argument that international cricket, be it Test, ODI or T20, must be on free to air TV. I thoroughly enjoyed watching last year's Ashes broadcast from England, and it's a crying shame that games in NZ are hidden from the majority of Australian cricket fans. NZ is so much closer than England, but is treated like it's two worlds away.