Who would've thought the Big Bash would go so well 5 years ago?

[sherb]

Havent seen Andrew Tye bowl before?
T20 is dominant with the bat at the moment, because the bowlers are still learning how to best operate in the format.

You seriously think that a contest between bat and ball can occur in a format where a bowler is given only 4 overs, often bowled in spells of 2 overs max?

 

[sherb]

I assume that all these bleeding heart purists turning their nose at T20's, are shield members and attend every match?

Why do they have to be?

I attend very few AFL games - does that mean I am not a passionate AFL supporter?

 

[Kram]

For mine one day cricket is easily the weakest and most overrated form of the game. No idea how anyone can class that as 'real' cricket but not T20.

 

[JackOutback]

Well, for me it's because it isn't a contest between bat and ball, which I view as one of the core elements of the game.

I disagree, I think it is still a contest between bat and ball, it's just that the expectations on bowlers has to change. Limiting players to ones and twos, or allowing just six off an over is an immense effort. I have loved watching Scorchers when they choked a team.

 

[JackOutback]

It's like comparing coq-au-vin to KFC. They are both chicken in the sense they use meat from the same bird. The similarities end there. If I say to my family 'What do you want for dinner tonight?' and they say chicken, they don't mean KFC. If they want KFC they'll say 'I want KFC'.

The reality is, most people these day can't be bothered getting out the slow cooker, preparing vegetables and stock, cutting up a chicken themselves, then waiting hours for it to cook perfectly. No, they'd rather pop down to the drive through, grab a 2 piece feed or a Zinger combo and be done with it. It's cheap, it's quick and immediately gratifying on a certain level, requires little to no thought process, and is imminently forgettable. Just like T20 cricket.

I will never be sold on T20 and will never support a Big Bash team. Like I occasionally buy KFC, I will occasionally go to a game. But I can accept it as a part of the landscape if only for the fact that it is probably going to subsidize the survival of test cricket for some time yet.

Where it's going to be interesting is when kids that have grown up with the game decide which format they want to channel their energies into.

Just wanted to say, I don't agree with you but I love the analogy.

 

[sherb]

I assume that all these bleeding heart purists turning their nose at T20's, are shield members and attend every match?

And while I am at it, what's with the moronic insults? Grow up.

 

[sherb]

I disagree, I think it is still a contest between bat and ball, it's just that the expectations on bowlers has to change. Limiting players to ones and twos, or allowing just six off an over is an immense effort. I have loved watching Scorchers when they choked a team.

Maybe on a team v team basis there is the occasional scope for the ball to have a say, but it is rare.

But certainly when it comes down to an individual bowler having any sort of contest with an individual batsman, that is all but impossible in the 20/20 form of the game.

Overall, the format is ridiculously lopsided in favour of the batsmen, seriously you may as well put bowling machines out there.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

If the Big Bash League final gets 75-80,000 at the MCG-despite the fact the Australian Open has Roger Federer playing tonight, expect to see alarm bells ringing at the FFA and Tennis Australia.

You only have to see the difference in ticket prices to know the Big Bash and Australian Open have different target crowds.

 

[JackOutback]

Maybe on a team v team basis there is the occasional scope for the ball to have a say, but it is rare.

But certainly when it comes down to an individual bowler having any sort of contest with an individual batsman, that is all but impossible in the 20/20 form of the game.

Overall, the format is ridiculously lopsided in favour of the batsmen, seriously you may as well put bowling machines out there.

I agree it's entirely weighted in the batsman's favour and yet, from my team alone, I think Tye, Dorff and Hoggy have enhanced their reputations.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

State cricket was and is decidedly uncool. They were wise to ditch that.

 

[ioppolo]

I would like the odd T20 game that has a green top or dehli dustbowl. Something where 120 could be a winning score.

 

[2006_Eagles]

Kids know Howie but not Ponting

 

[Wallaby]

I wonder how many of the placard waving, dancing munchkins that we see each night will graduate to become a sit on your bum for five days cricket tragic?

Who cares if they don't? Why can't people be a 'T20 Fanatic, but I don't really like 5-day cricket'?

Maybe one of the reasons the BBL has been so popular is it's a better game for most spectators who want to pay their money at the ground or turn the TV to the cricket instead of Better Homes and Gardens or cooking shows.

Just enjoy the BBL for what it is. It doesn't have to necessarily be a lead-in to Test cricket. At the moment, it's a roaring success - and has been for 5 years and is still growing.

 

[ioppolo]

Can these Friedman Lurie Singh ads please F*CK OFF

& D'Angelo

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Kids know Howie but not Ponting

He hasn't played for Australia in over 3 years.

 

[2006_Eagles]

He hasn't played for Australia in over 3 years.

Does he not commentate?

 

[Bomberboyokay]

What's going to be interesting moving forward is how long it takes the ECB to beat the counties into changing to both the franchise system and the 'window' system.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Does he not commentate?

So does Howie!

 

[2006_Eagles]

So does Howie!

 

[The_Reaper]

State cricket was and is decidedly uncool. They were wise to ditch that.

Except it was doing quite well in the Domestic T20s

 

[Rich]

Not sure why everyone is clamouring to see NZ sides in the Big Bash.

1) NZ have their own T20 competition.

2) NZ have a home cricket season of their own which is run through January primarily which is a lot more important than the Big Bash (for them).

3) Not sure why overseas sides are necessary in our domestic league in an international sport, just for the sake of 'growth'.

 

[psychobrown]

It has been smashing good fun (no pun intended). I think the success and interest really is in the international signings and the franchise nature, plus the timeslot is beautifully worked, you can watch it while working out or over dinner and see a result before bed. The players I imagine love it, there are state-level cricketers who are becoming household names and get far more exposure than dull old shield games that nobody cares about. Nobody watches those boring things, so getting the chance to play in front of bumper crowds would be a real thrill, especially with most games better attended than international ones that nobody has any interest in. Going forward I'd love to see them schedule the meaningless international games around the BBL competition, work it so the stars can play in the finals. I would also like to see the women's game expand, the RWBBL has been equally as surprising a success and they could structure it so the ladies play a some games at night as well (alternating or on evenings when the men aren't playing). Because cricket.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

Maybe on a team v team basis there is the occasional scope for the ball to have a say, but it is rare.

There isn't occasional scope... it exists in every, single game. Take a big wicket or bowl out a tight over, at a critical time, and you can seal the game. Captains have to think very, very carefully about how they use their bowlers... bowl the wrong guy at the wrong time, and you can lose the game.

The only reason it seems like the game is "dominated" by batsman is because the "norm" in a game of T20 is maybe 8 runs per over, compared with 3 in Test cricket. But that doesn't change the fact that there are twenty overs to be faced, which means there are twenty over to be bowled. Good bowlers have just as much opportunity to win games as do good batsman.

seriously you may as well put bowling machines out there.

So completely untrue, it's not even funny. If bowlers were so undervalued they could just as well be replaced by a machine, why do; (a) so many teams still maintain 3-4 specialist bowlers, and (b) so many teams go into games with at least 6 bowling options?

Because any mug can swing a bat and hit a six. But bowling in T20 and not getting tonked takes skills.

 

[sherb]

There isn't occasional scope... it exists in every, single game. Take a big wicket or bowl out a tight over, at a critical time, and you can seal the game. Captains have to think very, very carefully about how they use their bowlers... bowl the wrong guy at the wrong time, and you can lose the game.

The only reason it seems like the game is "dominated" by batsman is because the "norm" in a game of T20 is maybe 8 runs per over, compared with 3 in Test cricket. But that doesn't change the fact that there are twenty overs to be faced, which means there are twenty over to be bowled. Good bowlers have just as much opportunity to win games as do good batsman.

So completely untrue, it's not even funny. If bowlers were so undervalued they could just as well be replaced by a machine, why do; (a) so many teams still maintain 3-4 specialist bowlers, and (b) so many teams go into games with at least 6 bowling options?

Because any mug can swing a bat and hit a six. But bowling in T20 and not getting tonked takes skills.

How can a bowler compete in a format when he gets four overs and bowls in 1-2 over spells? In particular - spinners? They haven't even warmed up and are taken off.

The entire format is designed to give all the advantage to the batsmen. It is NOT a contest between bat and ball.

The bowlers are simply there as fodder.

 

[Damon_3388]

How can a bowler compete in a format when he gets four overs and bowls in 1-2 over spells? In particular - spinners? They haven't even warmed up and are taken off.

That's the challenge for the bowler, to break free of the mindset that they need to work at the batsman for hours on end, and adapt to have an impact in a short spell they have available.

Some bowlers can do it, some can't. Some batsman can do it, some can't. Just like switching between four/five-day and one-day cricket.