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Joined February 2019
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I am stunned by the content of this article.
Tim Paine is by far our best keeper. His hands are so soft, he is brilliant over the stumps and excellent standing back. He has no peer in Australia since Chris Hartley retired and fully deserves his spot in the team as a keeper.
As a captain, he has been just what we needed. He treats the position with respect, is an absolute competitor and tactically solid. Unlike his two predecessors, he does not take himself too seriously and has proved you can be an absolute competitor without being an absolute prick. He has been the breath of fresh air Australian cricket needed.
As for his batting, he has an excellent technique and a quality missing in so many of today’s cricketers – he places a value on his wicket. Yes, he has not made the runs he would have liked, but his technique and grit have seen him make almost 1000 test runes at 35. Second only to Gilchrist in the 142 years of test cricket.
Paine deserves his place in the Australian XI and as a member of that side, is clearly the best placed to skipper the team until he retires from test cricket in 3 or so years time.
Put Tim Paine in the Order of Australia, but not the Ashes squad
Pant’s poor keeping did not hurt India because Australia’s batting was far worse.
If Australia had a couple of world class batsmen, then his dropped catches may have hurt India, but we didn’t have a world class batsman.
Put Tim Paine in the Order of Australia, but not the Ashes squad
Whilst I agree with much of the content of this article, I think the issue is much bigger than just the BBL.
It transcends the entire cricket schedule, the need for content for the broadcasters and the need to balance up player preparation for international cricket, player availability and player welfare.
The secret to the success of the IPL is that it does not compete with any other cricket in India at the same time. A billion cricket mad locals helps a bit as well, but for 6 or so weeks it is all about the IPL. No distractions. The BBL needs the same clear air to operate in.
Here is how I would structure up the summer:
Mid Sep: JLT series. Gives fox cricket content as the footy codes are in their finals. Gives players a chance to press claims for ODI series:
Early Oct: 5 ODI’s over 12 days. Kicks off the international summer of cricket.
Mid Oct: Commence Sheffield Shield. Each state to play 8 games from mid October to weekend before Christmas. Gives all players plenty of red ball cricket to stake their test claim.
Late Nov: 1st test of the summer. D/N at Gabba giving broadcasters prime time content.
Early Dec: 2nd test Perth. Gives broadcasters prime time content.
Mid Dec: 3rd test D/N Adelaide
Late Dec: 4th test. Boxing Day Melbourne.
Early Jan: 5th test. New Year test Sydney.
All red ball cricket played at same time, giving best possible preparation for Australian test team.
Dec 30th: commence BBL.
Dec 31st: BBL double header
Jan 1st: BBL double header
Jan 2nd to 8th: single BBL games.
At this point, all franchises have played 3 games and Australian test players are now available for the rest of the tournament.
Next 4 weeks (until February 5th) 11 matches per week, taking tournament to semi final stage.
Saturday and Sunday night semi finals (8th and 9th). All star game Thursday 13th. Aust players vs overseas players. BBL Final Friday 14th.
Tournament starts 2 weeks later, reducing time for OS players. Gives most of test series clean air and maximises participation of Aust players in BBL.
Late Feb: 3x T20 internationals.
Late Feb play last two
Rounds of the shield and shield final.
Window for international tours to South Africa, NZ, WI etc. from late February.
Such a itinerary gives plenty of contact for broadcasters with little overlap across the various forms of the game.
It is worth a try.
What Cricket Australia must do to fix the Big Bash for 2020