Fall and Fall of Big Bash

[Bunk Moreland]

Some chuffed 60-year-olds who despise Twenty20 hitting the red tonight

Yeah as much as BBL and T20 in general attracts a lot of derision, the reality is these are two sporting “clubs” that (the Renegades in particular) have just been destroyed by the stroke of a pen by a bunch of executives.

There are genuine people out there who supported the Renegades, even if we didn’t get into it.

It’s a pretty sad commentary on modern corporate sport, which will bleed people dry in the name of them being supporters, then just turn around and shut the doors due to a change in corporate strategy.

It just underlines the utter shallowness of the whole thing. At least (most) AFL clubs remain member owned and this can’t just happen.

 

[happy_eagle]

To be honest, I don't think anyone in the country would support a fresh Indian-owned team, other than Indian cricket supporters (which there are lots of to be fair), or unless the team was based in a new location like Canberra

Indian support would only be likely if that team included Indian players.

Which it won't.

 

[corbies]

Yes it will be interesting to see what happens with the list, and how many new players the rebranded Stars attract. I suspect not many.

I'd only be interested in an Indian owned team if it allowed Indian players. Would love to see what Sooryavanshi would do to some of our so called elite T20 bowlers.

We see the best Indians play T20 cricket against the best Australians a shitload in bilateral series. Only really Indians go to watch those matches when they're played in Australia so I dont see why we'd want to watch them when they're playing for Mumbai Indians Melbourne Super Kings as opposed to India v Australia.

 

[eltrain]

I don’t think this is the worst move to be fair. The Stars vs Renegades rivalry never really captured the imagination here in terms of loyalty to one side or another. Derbys would get big crowds but most of the people in attendance couldn’t really give a shit who won. This is coming from someone who attended most Stars games at the G cause it was an easy convenient night out in the summer with mates or family.

I was always of the view that Melbourne should have just had the one team right from the get go based at the MCG, which would then have easily attracted a big loyal fanbase. Two Melbourne teams with arbitrary identities killed any chance of the average punter developing a real passion for either club. Early days there was a bit of an Establishment Vic vibe about the Stars (MCG / MCC Members / Bay 13, Warnie, Eddie etc) and a non-traditional cricket fan vibe about the Renegades (community engagement in the north and west, playing out of Marvel etc). But that never really caught fire imo.

Here’s a chance to get a genuine heated rivalry going between an Indian franchise and a navy blue Bushrangers team in the Big V. There’s a traditional Victorian identity for the average cricket fan to immediately identify with. And there’s a rival to hate the living daylights out of. The cricket loving Indian population in Melbourne is enormous and if they do this right and really play up the Indian cultural heritage, that side will get a huge following both here and in India.

 

[Phone]

How long before the Thunder join the Sixers ?

well this is part of the overall powerplay around privatisation. Cricket Vic wants it, Cricket NSW doesn't. the end result of Cricket NSW and Cricket QLD vetoing CA's privatisation plan is now self determination for the states. Cricket NSW probably isn't rushing to sell the Thunder in the same way that Cricket Vic is selling off their 2nd team

 

[Teen Wolf]

Here’s a chance to get a genuine heated rivalry going between an Indian franchise and a navy blue Bushrangers team in the Big V. There’s a traditional Victorian identity for the average cricket fan to immediately identify with. And there’s a rival to hate the living daylights out of.

So us convict folk are supposed to hate the team with brown owners... but we're supposed to like the team owned by the mob who actually sold out Australian cricket to foreigners?

Wholesome. Logical.

 

[eltrain]

So us convict folk are supposed to hate the team with brown owners... but we're supposed to like the team owned by the mob who actually sold out Australian cricket to foreigners?

Wholesome. Logical.

Selling one license for a franchise that didn’t really have an identity that resonated with the broader public to begin with does not = “selling out Australian cricket”. Privatisation as I have said many times before is inevitable if the BBL is to compete with the other franchise leagues for talent.

The India vs Australia rivalry has nothing to do with hating brown people or brown owners ffs. Bog average comment. India is a hated rival for every other cricket playing nation on the planet (including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) not because of skin colour but because of the influence of the BCCI and the arrogance of their players and fans.

Drawing on that same rivalry and the passion the Indian community in Melbourne has for cricket would generate huge interest in both Melbourne sides.

There is a lot of potential in this, but there are way too many people burying their heads in the sand here pretending that the BBL can just carry on as it is, losing out on talent to ILT20 and SA20, missing Indian sponsorship and marketing opportunities and leaving $$$ on the table while CA runs at a loss every summer.

 

[cats_09]

How long before the Thunder join the Sixers ?

That could make for an awkward discussion with Freddie if it's any time soon

 

[ioppolo]

The Stars have folded essentially, as the only team without a BBL trophy. That is just all too sweet.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Selling one license for a franchise that didn’t really have an identity that resonated with the broader public to begin with does not = “selling out Australian cricket”. Privatisation as I have said many times before is inevitable if the BBL is to compete with the other franchise leagues for talent.

The India vs Australia rivalry has nothing to do with “hating brown people” ffs. Bog average comment. India is a hated rival for every other cricket playing nation on the planet (including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) not because of skin colour but because of the influence of the BCCI and the arrogance of their players.

Won't be owned by the BCCI nor will it feature any of their so-called arrogant players. So why are we supposed to hate the team with brown owners, let alone care? Wise people itt have told me nobody gaf.

I suspect your original summary is close to what somebody at CV is thinking. It obviously just won't work, in terms of creating a stronger rivalry or generating significantly more interest in the league.

 

[JackOutback]

Indian support would only be likely if that team included Indian players.

Which it won't.

Giving them a moderate Indian star or two each season would give the team an identity and a head start in terms of support, and could be seen as a win for the BBL.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

They are clearly folding the two teams into one and selling the other licence as a blank slate. Question is, where is that one going? For all the talk of a second team in Perth, no one is abandoning the Scorchers for a new start-up.

The other licence will probably be bought by one of the IPL owners/teams

 

[happy_eagle]

Giving them a moderate Indian star or two each season would give the team an identity and a head start in terms of support, and could be seen as a win for the BBL.

It would be the first time they have let an Indian player play outside the IPL, remembering that they already own half a dozen or so leagues+teams already across SA, WI, USA and ENG.

 

[eltrain]

Giving them a moderate Indian star or two each season would give the team an identity and a head start in terms of support, and could be seen as a win for the BBL.

They’ll probably get some Bollywood star and an Indian dance troop out to perform for the games, get the dhol drums going in the crowd and Indian music on the PA etc. It won’t be hard to engage that community.

Won't be owned by the BCCI nor will it feature any of their so-called arrogant players. So why are we supposed to hate the team with brown owners, let alone care? Wise people itt have told me nobody gaf.

I suspect your original summary is close to what somebody at CV is thinking. It obviously just won't work, in terms of creating a stronger rivalry or generating significantly more interest in the league.

I don’t know, why are we supposed to hate Melbourne Stars or Renegades? These were always arbitrary identities. At least this has the potential to be SOME sort of actual identity clash.

 

[big_e]

It would be the first time they have let an Indian player play outside the IPL, remembering that they already own half a dozen or so leagues+teams already across SA, WI, USA and ENG.

Retired players can do it - Ashwin would have played for Sydney Thunder last season if not for injury. (And of course women's players have been doing it for yonks.)

 

[SpecialBruce]

Whoever buys the other licence should base the team on the Gold Coast or Canberra.

 

[eltrain]

Up the Bushrangers

 

[Teen Wolf]

They’ll probably get some Bollywood star and an Indian dance troop out to perform for the games, get the dhol drums going in the crowd and Indian music on the PA etc. It won’t be hard to engage that community.

I don’t know, why are we supposed to hate Melbourne Stars or Renegades? These were always arbitrary identities. At least this has the potential to be SOME sort of actual identity clash.

Yeah if only the Renegades had thought of something like an Indian dance troupe to distinguish themselves and engage the community...



I'm still not sure why that's supposed to incite hatred, but anyway. These arbitrary identities pulled 68k to the MCG and 42k to Marvel this year when playing each other.

There are only so many people who want to attend the sport in Victoria at a T20 domestic level. That number is around 300k. Adding a new ownership narrative for one of the teams isn't going to grow that overall figure, because it's cricket not professional wrestling.

 

[HugeJohnson]

Cricket as we knew it is dead. I think it's farcical that we're having an IPL franchise own an Australian domestic team. And how sad that they're having a BBL game in India, someone please tell me what the point of that is, because I'm actually stumped. Are we trying to grow the game in India??
Like who gives an actual **** about cricket anymore? It's actually disgusting what money and greed have done to it. Just bad decision after bad decision, pointless series after pointless series, needless change after needless change.
Australia is playing a series at the moment I believe and no one even knows it's happening.
I just don't understand how people are supposed to get invested in this sport anymore.

Our best national cricketers are skipping playing for their country so they can be well rested for an Indian domestic tournament. Let that sink in.
Then when the opportunity comes around for them to play in Australia's domestic tournament, they opt out and say they're too tired.

It's an absolute disgrace.
Good luck to them.

 

[Cleavy]

Whoever buys the other licence should base the team on the Gold Coast or Canberra.

Then they would be conceding the whole idea of 2 Melb teams and being able to play 2 “derbies” was a flop.

 

[Gough]

Then they would be conceding the whole idea of 2 Melb teams and being able to play 2 “derbies” was a flop.

I get the reasons they've tried and population numbers suggest splitting Vic and NSW should be more than viable but beyond different colours and grounds they never defined what the team was about or why you should support them and not the guys in different coloured kit. After fifteen years I still saw them as Melbourne red or green with teams the captains may as well have taken turns picking from 22 players in the rooms before the game.

 

[eltrain]

Yeah if only the Renegades had thought of something like an Indian dance troupe to distinguish themselves and engage the community...

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If this is the game I think you're referring to, it was a one off performance about 10 years ago. Surely you can see the difference between a random one off dance performance for a team with no actual distinguishable identity and a club owned by an established IPL franchise owner with an actual Indian cultural identity. If this license is bought by Reliance Industries (owners of Mumbai Indians - who have already expressed interest in the license overnight along with the Sunrisers owners), then I wouldn't be surprised if actual Bollywood stars ended up making appearances at games out here.

I'm still not sure why that's supposed to incite hatred, but anyway. These arbitrary identities pulled 68k to the MCG and 42k to Marvel this year when playing each other.

There are only so many people who want to attend the sport in Victoria at a T20 domestic level. That number is around 300k. Adding a new ownership narrative for one of the teams isn't going to grow that overall figure, because it's cricket not professional wrestling.

Actual sporting rivalries develop only where there is a clear 'us vs them' element to the clash, and for that to happen there needs to be a distinguishing cultural identity. Every BBL team outside Melbourne at least has its own geographic heartland it can claim, whereas one green team and one red team based in the CBD does nothing to draw you either way. The derbies got big crowds, but if you actually attended any of those games it was pretty clear the majority of people there were there for an entertaining night out and not because they were passionate for one team over the other.

There are only so many people who want to attend the sport in Victoria at a T20 domestic level. That number is around 300k. Adding a new ownership narrative for one of the teams isn't going to grow that overall figure, because it's cricket not professional wrestling.

I disagree, people are far more likely to sign up for memberships and show up for games on a regular basis if they feel a genuine connection to the team. The navy blue and the Big V are symbols that resonate with the average punter on the street in Melbourne. Melburnians are famously passionate sports fans, but the BBL teams were never really able to capture that.

 

[Whats a Battle]

Actual sporting rivalries develop only where there is a clear 'us vs them' element to the clash, and for that to happen there needs to be a distinguishing cultural identity. Every BBL team outside Melbourne at least has its own geographic heartland it can claim, whereas one green team and one red team based in the CBD does nothing to draw you either way. The derbies got big crowds, but if you actually attended any of those games it was pretty clear the majority of people there were there for an entertaining night out and not because they were passionate for one team over the other.

Now, imagine if the most popular sporting league in the nation had Melbourne CBD teams #1 through #9, and Geelong! Oh wait...

 

[Gough]

Now, imagine if the most popular sporting league in the nation had Melbourne CBD teams #1 through #9, and Geelong! Oh wait...

They all started their lives with a suburban identity though. These teams were as generic as a piece of copying paper.

 

[eltrain]

Now, imagine if the most popular sporting league in the nation had Melbourne CBD teams #1 through #9, and Geelong! Oh wait...

Can’t tell if you’re actually trying to make a serious argument here or just taking the piss