BBL Big Bash League Expansion Thread

[The_Reaper]

Cricket can be a hard game to measure. It's fair to say that despite peak viewing figures, people tune in and out of a Test match, whereas it's more likely people will watch the whole T20 game. On the other hand, a game every night is more than most would be willing to commit to. Test cricket is still king (particularly the Ashes and India) but BBL is chasing hard. They would be wanting to get to a million regularly in the next season or two.

Other thing to note is that only diehards will watch every big bash league game. Some might only watch their own team

 

[Bucking Beads]

Firstly I think CA should look to expand the amount of games played in the BBL before we bring in more teams. It'd be handy to gauge the interest of the tv viewer and those who will go to games with a longer tournament. It will have to be pretty condensed to have more teams in it and I am not sure there is the talent around for more teams at this stage. I'd be more open to having NZ teams coming in but then it comes down to Logistics.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

It will never become irrelevant. Every player in Australia says that Test and First Class cricket is the priority, and as such the 10 match shield season will always happen.

CA were talking a couple of years ago about cutting shield games, playing the opening rounds in the top end, and removing the final. I give it 5 years before CA do cut the Shield back.

While today's players want to play Tests, that won't be so true of the next generation who are growing up on a T20 diet both in consumption and play. More importantly it is already not the way of administrators. Money over-rules sport in the minds of administrators of all nations (maybe less so in England). There is every possibility there will be nobody left to play (except England) in a Test in 20 years.

 

[eth-dog]

it is?

Yes

I think CA would tell u otherwise after the 80k crowd the other night

And the 3 million viewers in the final session of day 3 in the D/N test tells you otherwise

Only if they persist with playing one game at a time

You could add the 24 extra matches without expanding the length of the season by more than a few days if you always made Perth matches the second match of a double header, played numerous Saturday/Sunday twilight fixtures, and, God forbid, playing 2 games in one slot and showing a game on One

Only way that would work is if they share the rights with foxtel.

CA were talking a couple of years ago about cutting shield games, playing the opening rounds in the top end, and removing the final. I give it 5 years before CA do cut the Shield back.

While today's players want to play Tests, that won't be so true of the next generation who are growing up on a T20 diet both in consumption and play. More importantly it is already not the way of administrators. Money over-rules sport in the minds of administrators of all nations (maybe less so in England). There is every possibility there will be nobody left to play (except England) in a Test in 20 years.

The bit you neglected to mention is that literally everybody told them that it was the worst idea they ever had and they kept it the same. They should cut the final, but it will be a full 10 match season.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

The bit you neglected to mention is that literally everybody told them that it was the worst idea they ever had and they kept it the same. They should cut the final, but it will be a full 10 match season.

Everybody did say that. But I have no faith that CA would care about any opinions except a broadcasters, were further millions to be thrown in their faces.

 

[The_Reaper]

Everybody did say that. But I have no faith that CA would care about any opinions except a broadcasters, were further millions to be thrown in their faces.

Maybe. But the BBL was brought in with a specific goal in mind. Hopefully they don't get too carried away and keep sight of their priority

 

[princy_99]

Personally I think a Gold Coast team should be added and try to align it with the AFL team by using Metricon and the new training facilities we are getting for 2018 this way people on the Gold Coast have something to watch all year round, plus if your an international player coming for the comp where would u want to live Gold Coast, Canberra or Geelong personally it would be the Gold Coast for me.

 

[The_Reaper]

Personally I think a Gold Coast team should be added and try to align it with the AFL team by using Metricon and the new training facilities we are getting for 2018 this way people on the Gold Coast have something to watch all year round, plus if your an international player coming for the comp where would u want to live Gold Coast, Canberra or Geelong personally it would be the Gold Coast for me.

No. Keep the sports separate.

 

[Colonial]

If anything has been proven, no super club has worked in Australia.

 

[madmug]

Personally I think a Gold Coast team should be added and try to align it with the AFL team by using Metricon and the new training facilities we are getting for 2018 this way people on the Gold Coast have something to watch all year round, plus if your an international player coming for the comp where would u want to live Gold Coast, Canberra or Geelong personally it would be the Gold Coast for me.

lf they want a beach holiday, fine. But they are prfessional players here to play in games across the country. They will go where they are drafted. They wont ask to be sent to a place to party & snort. Its not the AFL or NRL you know.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

lf they want a beach holiday, fine. But they are prfessional players here to play in games across the country. They will go where they are drafted. They wont ask to be sent to a place to party & snort. Its not the AFL or NRL you know.

On the other hand T20 is as much party as sport. It might be more attractive to the average GC punter than Rugby League or Australian Football are on that basis. Especially with no other cricket in town and only 3-4 games a year. And the BBL is on in holiday time, when a lot of people are visiting so there might some visiting team support in town already.

 

[Marklar_33]

Everybody did say that. But I have no faith that CA would care about any opinions except a broadcasters, were further millions to be thrown in their faces.

Defamation! That's not my quote!

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Defamation! That's not my quote!

Its not either. I don't think I quoted and edited, but must have done.
Maybe the software picked up your name (the last quote in a multi-quote post) rather than the poster I was actually quoting. I haven't seen it do that before, so it was probably a mistaken edit by me.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

It will never become irrelevant. Every player in Australia says that Test and First Class cricket is the priority, and as such the 10 match shield season will always happen.

Players care about first class insomuch as they have to work it to get to Test selection and it pays well for performing in front of 200 people.

We've already seen signs first class is considered less relevant than before with players being judged on how they perform in the Big Bash in front of cameras and big crowds. If traditionalists don't like Twenty20 now they're going to ****ing despise it in 5-10+ years as the contracts get bigger and more important in the players priorities.

The days of "Get a heap of runs/wickets in the Shield and you'll get slotted into Australia" are over.

 

[G Mus]

What do people think of a CA XI team, developmentally focused, able to chop and change the squad throughout the tournament?

 

[Admiral Byng]

What do people think of a CA XI team, developmentally focused, able to chop and change the squad throughout the tournament?

Not keen on the idea. I sometimes think that a squad of young blokes playing against grown men in a proper competition, and getting flogged week-in week-out is probably not the best thing for their development. I've heard lots of stories from successful sports stars about joining a team as a youngster and having an older player take them under their wing and mentor them. Freddy Flintoff on the T20 commentary the other night was talking about playing County cricket with Wasim Akram, who taught him how to bowl reverse swing. A group of young blokes playing together can't learn that stuff of each other.

 

[2006_Eagles]

Not keen on the idea. I sometimes think that a squad of young blokes playing against grown men in a proper competition, and getting flogged week-in week-out is probably not the best thing for their development. I've heard lots of stories from successful sports stars about joining a team as a youngster and having an older player take them under their wing and mentor them. Freddy Flintoff on the T20 commentary the other night was talking about playing County cricket with Wasim Akram, who taught him how to bowl reverse swing. A group of young blokes playing together can't learn that stuff of each other.

He could have just Googled it

 

[The_Reaper]

Not keen on the idea. I sometimes think that a squad of young blokes playing against grown men in a proper competition, and getting flogged week-in week-out is probably not the best thing for their development. I've heard lots of stories from successful sports stars about joining a team as a youngster and having an older player take them under their wing and mentor them. Freddy Flintoff on the T20 commentary the other night was talking about playing County cricket with Wasim Akram, who taught him how to bowl reverse swing. A group of young blokes playing together can't learn that stuff of each other.

aka see the current West Indian team where they've literally decided to get a few talented blokes and make them learn on the job

 

[Hellgood]

Players care about first class insomuch as they have to work it to get to Test selection and it pays well for performing in front of 200 people.

We've already seen signs first class is considered less relevant than before with players being judged on how they perform in the Big Bash in front of cameras and big crowds. If traditionalists don't like Twenty20 now they're going to ******* despise it in 5-10+ years as the contracts get bigger and more important in the players priorities.

The days of "Get a heap of runs/wickets in the Shield and you'll get slotted into Australia" are over.

People have been moaning about this since the beginning of time (well, cricket).

Selectors are going to pick on their eye.

 

[Gibbke]

Based upon population alone, the GC and Canberra are light years ahead of everyone outside NZ. Splitting Brisbane would be a bad idea, but the addition of GC negates that...77km might as well be 5000. Same with Canberra. You also have two stadiums ready to go. Everywhere else in Australia, however, clashes with existing teams, or is unviable...

NZ would be dependant upon them happily reorganising their season to fit the BBL, and having two sides...Auckland and Wellington in the north and south...

If you went for a nine team league, you would have eight games each - equal home and away with no double ups, and a bye is redundant when every game is played separately...

 

[madmug]

Based upon population alone, the GC and Canberra are light years ahead of everyone outside NZ. Splitting Brisbane would be a bad idea, but the addition of GC negates that...77km might as well be 5000. Same with Canberra. You also have two stadiums ready to go. Everywhere else in Australia, however, clashes with existing teams, or is unviable...

NZ would be dependant upon them happily reorganising their season to fit the BBL, and having two sides...Auckland and Wellington in the north and south...

If you went for a nine team league, you would have eight games each - equal home and away with no double ups, and a bye is redundant when every game is played separately...

Yes, pretty right. Maybe Auckland & Christchurch for north & south islands

 

[Tassieboy]

Keep it how it is please.

 

[bombersfan4000]

No. Keep the sports separate.

Nor a football club on the gold coast, that place is a grave yard for sporting teams

 

[Colonial]

Does anyone think that CA would ever schedule international cricket around the Big Bash so all of the Australian players are available. I think the competition becomes unfair when teams lose their best players to the various national sides.

Its a possibility if it keeps growing like it is.

I didnt think it would get a sbig as it is now. And thats after only a few years.

 

[ioppolo]

None. Keep it at 8.