Roar Rookie
Joined January 2021
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How many times have we heard this summer that there’s no first-class cricket on from which to judge and select players for Tests? The…
Always a mistake on this internet thing, and yet here we are. At least you’ve got a good one!
Australia needs first-class cricket during the Big Bash window
Haha i’m sorry! I didn’t realise there was more than one of us. Please accept my apologies, though I can only blame my parents and my daft decision to use my actual first name.
Australia needs first-class cricket during the Big Bash window
Agree, though I really enjoyed watching the CAXI team to be honest! Watching Jake Carder and Beau Webster (I think?) score tons early in the season was one of the highlights of that season for me, though such performances were admittedly rare!
Sorry if I wasn’t clear, I didn’t mean an actual CAXI or Aus A, but a similar construct sent over by another cricket board to play in the shield. Again, I don’t know that it’s overly realistic but it could be interesting. It’s at least fun to think about! A more realistic option would be the territories as you mention, but I wonder if we have the depth to support another 40 first class cricketers… Be nice if we do! I was lucky enough to watch NSW vs VIC a few years ago in Alice and that’s a pretty scenic ground, so would love to see more games there.
Australia needs first-class cricket during the Big Bash window
Yep, personally I found I was much more engaged with the Big Bash when it was state based. Like your idea for a mini first class comp but do think you’d want to start small at first. Be great to see it happen though!
Australia needs first-class cricket during the Big Bash window
Great thinking Dwanye! Like some of those ideas, no need for it to be boring games behind closed doors!
Australia needs first-class cricket during the Big Bash window
No idea about the plunkett shield, but I think this is an excellent idea. Another thing i’d love to see (and let’s just play hypotheticals, purely a thought! Logistics would probably be a nightmare) is to introduce another team or two into the Sheffield Shield – either some sort of CA XI/Aus A but from other countries (e.g. England, Windies what have you) or even to invite countries like Afghan/Zimbabwe/Ireland etc to send a “Country XI” to join the comp.
As I said, probably be a nightmare and a mess… but could be fun and good for the players!
Australia needs first-class cricket during the Big Bash window
Very true – I think most fans and critics agree on that! Take it back to 30 odd games and bring the fun back… at the moment it feels too drawn out.
Australia needs first-class cricket during the Big Bash window
Agree with all of your points, but I think you can do more in terms of having players make their cases – wouldn’t it have been nice if during the test series we had something to select replacements from other than a truncated shield season and a single Aus A game. I accept this year is obviously different due to the squad being in a bubble and trouble in each state getting players in and out, but let’s imagine that’s not the case next summer… Besides, we now have nothing but months old shield and BBL to choose players for south africa from.
A strong BBL is just as important as a strong test team and you’re right about Australia going down to essentially IPL players… but one thing the IPL manages is to separate itself from all other cricket. It would be ideal if the BBL could do the same, but there’s only so much time in the Australian summer.
I don’t think you need to set up a fully fledged competition, but even just a series of CA XI (a) vs CA XI (b) games running through the BBL window would allow players who either don’t have BBL contracts or are on the fringe of the test team to at least do something productive about it. I don’t think it would necessarily draw too many players out of the BBL either, though again, allowing another international recruit could help compensate if it did so.
Australia needs first-class cricket during the Big Bash window
Too true – hence the suggestion to enable the BBL to get more big names from overseas if possible. Even better would be to play it in a time slot where there are no clashes with international cricket, but that seems impossible in this day and age.
And let’s face it – a lot of the players that would be drawn into a CA XIs comp or whatever you wanted to call it would be players like Kurtis Patterson, Chadd Sayers etc… Some don’t have contracts with BBL clubs anyway and others barely get a game. There has to be a better way to balance the BBL with first class cricket.
Australia needs first-class cricket during the Big Bash window
Would it? I don’t think that some of the players sitting on the sidelines would think so, not when there’s the chance for a seat on the plane to South Africa!
As to the last time the test team was picked purely on shield form, best I can think of is 2016 following the Hobart rout – although i’d agree that was more like 50% form (Renshaw and Handscomb) and 50% gut-feel and intangibles (Wade and Maddinson).
Australia needs first-class cricket during the Big Bash window
Thanks Paul, really appreciate it. I know I don’t have an answer but it’s great to see so many different opinions on it.
I don’t mind that suggestion either, and definitely think we could garner some kudos with other boards by offering a touring party in January. For one, that would likely enable us and NZ to play more often which I think would have strong support.
Sadly I think you’re 100% right on the TV contract side of things. One reason I think there won’t be any significant changes to the schedule until 2024 or whenever TV rights are back up for negotiation. Doesn’t mean it’s not fun to come up with ideas in the meantime, and that there is an obvious need to try and improve the schedule as much as possible.
Australia needs first-class cricket during the Big Bash window