Cricket Australia - Wrong Priorities

[The Cattery 1980]

You know you are travelling well when even Scomo can successfully snipe at you from the cheap seats.

It was good to see the PM have a crack at CA for their political agenda. Thought he could've gone a little harder after that embarrassing Test series.

 

[The Cattery 1980]

CA have made it clear that the state of the sport in this country and the product are not a priority to them. Corporate virtue signaling and inflating participation numbers to sell to advertisers is their main goal. Sutherland leaving changed nothing.

Also considering some of the crowds over the last few years probably not a good idea to isolate further people from the sport.

The NFL and NBA went the way of corporate virtue signalling, and TV ratings plummeted. NFL crowds were also on the decline pre-covid because of their left-wing political cheerleading

 

[Retzlaff]

If CA change the name of their cheese, I’m done with cricket

 

[imagifED]

Take me back to the days when sport was just sport.

 

[nobbyiscool]

Take me back to the days when sport was just sport.

It's never been the case. Sport and politics have always been intertwined, just as sex and politics and religion and politics are.

 

[Rob]

I'd argue that the criticism of CA in this instance should be related to the area of the action it has taken.

I have no problem with what they are doing but it seems to be window dressing over a really big problem in the game.

Which is - our indigenous people are very good athletes (look at AFL, the Rugby codes, athletics for instance) - so where have they been/where are they in cricket?

And what is CA doing to get more indigenous Australians playing? Sure as hell little niceties like this Australia Day move isn't going to achieve much in that area.

I don't know if you've noticed, but generally the point of virtue signalling is covering up of a complete lack of real action in relation to the topic you're virtue signalling about.

It allows you to claim the moral high ground without actually doing anything.

 

[Scotland]

I don't know if you've noticed, but generally the point of virtue signalling is covering up of a complete lack of real action in relation to the topic you're virtue signalling about.

It allows you to claim the moral high ground without actually doing anything.

You mean like, say, scheduling 3 matches on a Tuesday public holiday and then dropping reference to the name of said public holiday?

 

[Teen Wolf]

The notion that Cricket Australia isn't taking real steps to increase "opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to thrive through cricket" is well wide of the mark. Those who pretend to care about CA's specific actions on this front but, in actual fact, can't even be bothered to read the Reconciliation Action Plan to find out for themselves... they are the ones guilty of moral grandstanding, in my view.

Here are some, but not all, of the actions mentioned under the "Opportunities" section of the document.









There are no grounds on which to credibly claim CA is passing off the "Respect" and "Relationships" initiatives as a substitute for those outlined in the "Opportunities" section. There are things that could be done better, but the assumption that CA isn't trying to effect meaningful change is simply false.

Further, it should be noted that although actions like the induction of Johnny Mullagh into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame qualify as feel-good niceties, they are nevertheless actions which right a blatant wrong and therefore wholly necessary.

 

[Gough]

So who else knew CA had dropped the references to Australia Day until the PM stuck his oar? I think it was news to most of us, I'd say if you don't go to the games because of this 21st century cricket has probably left you a little behind.

 

[t_94]

The system has been broken for a long time.

Nobody went to Sheffield Shield matches, unless you were a complete cricket nut. Maybe a thousand or two, but never a big enough number to pay for itself. Shield cricket, whilst important for developing test players, ran at a loss, and did so for decades. What subsidised the whole set-up was international matches, in particular the 50 overs ODIs.

But ODI's have had their heyday. No other country wants to come to Australia for several weeks at a time to play in a long and drawn out triangular series any more. It's all short and meaningless 3 or 4 match ODI series that just don't have the same appeal.

T20 cricket is where it is at. It can fund the whole of the rest of domestic cricket.

You can whine about the BBL undermining Shield cricket all you like, but something has to pay for Shield cricket since it can't fund itself. Without BBL Shield cricket will slowly fade away and die out, and test cricket with it.

It’s a sport not a business. Cut inflated salaries of management and hangers on and redirect that money to shield for a start.

 

[kenberger]

unfortunately for CA, no one is choosing to tune in now that this action has been taken. Plenty will choose to tune out.
Oh to be left behind by ‘21st century cricket’

 

[archibald]

I don't see how promoting inclusion whilst attempting to restore structural issues that currently diminish performance cant be done simultaneously. The real issue is there are 300 games of BB and no shield cricket during home test series. Just start there.

 

[Stax on the mill]

Maybe CA should concentrate on actually getting better at their core business of the health of cricket in this country, instead of grovelling to the rowdy minority. Those wanting the date changed disingenuously say “move it to a date that all can celebrate”.

They’ve got no qualms however about overriding the wishes of the 70% who wish to retain Jan 26. Truth be known, many of those agitating for change would object to any celebration of our National day, no matter what date was chosen.

 

[nobbyiscool]

unfortunately for CA, no one is choosing to tune in now that this action has been taken. Plenty will choose to tune out.
Oh to be left behind by ‘21st century cricket’

Absolute bullshit. The number of people so racist that reconciliation action offends them that greatly could be counted on your hands.

 

[The Cattery 1980]

unfortunately for CA, no one is choosing to tune in now that this action has been taken. Plenty will choose to tune out.
Oh to be left behind by ‘21st century cricket’

CA are going down the same path as Rugby Australia. They hide the fact that they're hopeless at running the sport by engaging in political activism. They might win over a few bleeding hearts, but the true hardcore fans see through their bullshit.

Hopefully fans boycott the BBL on Australia Day to send these cretins a message. Get woke, go broke.

 

[The Passenger]

Nobody went to Sheffield Shield matches, unless you were a complete cricket nut. Maybe a thousand or two, but never a big enough number to pay for itself. Shield cricket, whilst important for developing test players, ran at a loss, and did so for decades. What subsidised the whole set-up was international matches, in particular the 50 overs ODIs.

Maybe a final. About a decade or so ago I found myself at maybe 2-3 days of shield cricket a summer for a few seasons. Crowds would have maxed out at 100 on a good day.

The live streaming has been good and has seen a bit of an uptick in interest for the competition, but definitely not enough to pay for it. It's a genuine loss leader competition.

 

[Numero Uno]

more of a stance if they cancelled games scheduled on Australia day

but I suppose wokeness plays 2nd fiddle to profit
fools the idiots though..well done CA, hypocrisy 101

 

[Admiral Byng]

It’s a sport not a business. Cut inflated salaries of management and hangers on and redirect that money to shield for a start.

Welcome to the 21st century mate. Things cost money. Pitches have to be prepared, players have to train, players need to fly interstate and stay in hotels. All this costs money. Where is the money coming from? This isn't the 1800s where players were wealthy gentlemen with independent incomes outside of cricket and only played the game as amateurs. People involved in playing the game or supporting the game behind the scenes need to be paid, otherwise they'll have to go and earn a living somewhere else and give up the game. The principle of amateurism in sports died a long time ago.

 

[Belnakor]

CA are going down the same path as Rugby Australia.

That is a great point. They basically killed their sport. This is the path CA are heading down.

 

[Belnakor]

Welcome to the 21st century mate. Things cost money. Pitches have to be prepared, players have to train, players need to fly interstate and stay in hotels. All this costs money. Where is the money coming from? This isn't the 1800s where players were wealthy gentlemen with independent incomes outside of cricket and only played the game as amateurs. People involved in playing the game or supporting the game behind the scenes need to be paid, otherwise they'll have to go and earn a living somewhere else and give up the game. The principle of amateurism in sports died a long time ago.

I think there are legitimate concerns about the level of administration at CA. Similiar to the AFL. You get these guys coming in getting sometimes, more than the players just to do an admin role. Its kind of crazy.

The states are not happy with the level of admin at CA and thats good enough for me.

 

[madmug]

you say that, but the "big boost" and the supersub or whatever it is. They are all generated by the marketing team.

This bullshit is distracting

Its T20. Its about catering for people with a short span of attention.

Ignore the silly marketing stuff. Just enjoy the challenge of bat & ball.

 

[Caesar]

It appears their No.1 priority is to ensure they are taking the right "moral stance" on Australia Day.

A large organisation can walk and chew gum at the same time. Not only is the Australia Day thing not CA's top priority, it is not even their top indigenous priority. CA has had a Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan for most of the last decade, and this was one very minor recommendation from the RAP Working Group amongst many.

Under the current plan and previous ones, CA has implemented literally dozens upon dozens of initiatives to promote reconciliation and better integrate indigenous people into the sport. These have resulted in an 800% increase in indigenous youth participation over the last 7 years. At a time when kids are deserting the sport in droves, that's stunningly successful.

How about focusing on the game, our struggling test team, our development of junior players, the length of the Big Bash?

I have not seen you on here complaining about the 'distracting' nature of any of the 100+ other indigenous policy initiatives (or indeed, any other non-indigenous policy initiatives) implemented by CA over the last decade - most of which required considerably more effort and resources than this one.

So I am forced to conclude that this is just a disingenuous reason to bitch about something you don't like.

 

[Santana]

I don't see how promoting inclusion whilst attempting to restore structural issues that currently diminish performance cant be done simultaneously. The real issue is there are 300 games of BB and no shield cricket during home test series. Just start there.

But they're not doing that. They don't care. This stuff is just a distraction from them. Hence the frustration here. If CA really cared why even play on the 26th at all?

You actually think there is a chance they are going to shorten the BBL or move it? lol

 

[t_94]

Welcome to the 21st century mate. Things cost money. Pitches have to be prepared, players have to train, players need to fly interstate and stay in hotels. All this costs money. Where is the money coming from? This isn't the 1800s where players were wealthy gentlemen with independent incomes outside of cricket and only played the game as amateurs. People involved in playing the game or supporting the game behind the scenes need to be paid, otherwise they'll have to go and earn a living somewhere else and give up the game. The principle of amateurism in sports died a long time ago.

Welcome to the 21st century mate. Things cost money. Pitches have to be prepared, players have to train, players need to fly interstate and stay in hotels. All this costs money. Where is the money coming from? This isn't the 1800s where players were wealthy gentlemen with independent incomes outside of cricket and only played the game as amateurs. People involved in playing the game or supporting the game behind the scenes need to be paid, otherwise they'll have to go and earn a living somewhere else and give up the game. The principle of amateurism in sports died a long time ago.

What I’m saying is you could reduce costs by reducing the absurd number of hangers on associated with running cricket.

Cricket Australia shit on the health of the game constantly by dragging their heels or refusing to play anyone in test cricket that isn’t India or England because it doesn’t make enough money. Putting the cart before the horse.

 

[Belnakor]

Under the current plan and previous ones, CA has implemented literally dozens upon dozens of initiatives to promote reconciliation and better integrate indigenous people into the sport. These have resulted in an 800% increase in indigenous youth participation over the last 7 years. At a time when kids are deserting the sport in droves, that's stunningly successful.

They can do that work because it is about expanding the game and identifying a new talent pool.

How is this virtue signaling expanding the game?