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***Official*** Big Bash League
- Thread starter Furball
- Start date
benchmark00
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The boss.
Mister Wright
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I know this thread is 33 pages in, but it's still my first post.
Can't believe Sydney picked up Lumb, he was pathetic last season for QLD and like he did last year, showed promise, but got out just as he was getting going.
And the Heat...what more can be said, but you can change the name from Bulls to Heat, but the result will still be the same. Sub standard total and never really in with a chance of defending it.
Can't believe Sydney picked up Lumb, he was pathetic last season for QLD and like he did last year, showed promise, but got out just as he was getting going.
And the Heat...what more can be said, but you can change the name from Bulls to Heat, but the result will still be the same. Sub standard total and never really in with a chance of defending it.
Furball
Evil Scotsman
Yes it does. Crowds enhance the atmosphere for the TV viewer - TV viewers will switch off if it's a bunch of games being played at empty stadia.
Lack of crowds at the games = lack of interest = less interest from TV.
howardj
International Coach
Considering the enormous marketing push, she was an underwhelming crowd. I really think, especially once the Aus Internationals are out of it from Christmas onwards, it's going to drag on a bit...final is not until February. As I've said before, less is more with T20.
Cabinet96
Hall of Fame Member
The crowds in England have been poor over the last couple of years. I remember they actually praised Australia for having a small tournament while we played over 150 games. To be honest it feels kinda pointless each team playing 16 group games when the 2 semi finals go to super overs.
Furball
Evil Scotsman
The other thing with the Big Bash is that from a marketing point of view it's missing its most marketable asset, which is the Australian Test players. There's 2 reasons why guys like Warne, Hayden and MacGill are big draws - the first is that these guys were actually good, but the second reason is that all the current big draws - the likes of Hussey, Clarke, Ponting etc - will all be playing Test cricket, so guys like Warne, even at 42, are a bigger draw than the random Shield players who'll make up the rosters of the franchises.
International contests are still the marquee events in cricket and it seems utterly insane to pit a T20 league up in direct competition with one of the biggest series in the international calendar. It's not a problem that's going to go away for the Big Bash - looking at the FTP program, the only gaps in the calendar during the Australian summer (I'm assuming April isn't part of the cricket season) are:
1 week at the start of March 2013 which comes between the end of the OD leg of an Ashes summer and a tour to South Africa
1 week in February 2015 which comes inbetween a tri-series with England and India and the start of the World Cup
The last week in October 2015, which is inbetween a tour of Bangladesh and hosting New Zealand
2 weeks at the end of November 2016 between the end of a home series vs South Africa and a home series vs Pakistan
1 week at the end of March 2017 after a tour of India
1 week at the start of November 2017 between a tour of India and the start of a home Ashes summer
1 week in February 2018 between an away Chappell-Hadlee series and a tour of South Africa
The last 3 weeks of March 2019
3 weeks in February 2020 between a home ODI series vs India and a tour of South Africa.
Unless Cricket Australia has a significant rethink about scheduling, I can't see how the Big Bash is going to be a success with the cricketing public.
International contests are still the marquee events in cricket and it seems utterly insane to pit a T20 league up in direct competition with one of the biggest series in the international calendar. It's not a problem that's going to go away for the Big Bash - looking at the FTP program, the only gaps in the calendar during the Australian summer (I'm assuming April isn't part of the cricket season) are:
1 week at the start of March 2013 which comes between the end of the OD leg of an Ashes summer and a tour to South Africa
1 week in February 2015 which comes inbetween a tri-series with England and India and the start of the World Cup
The last week in October 2015, which is inbetween a tour of Bangladesh and hosting New Zealand
2 weeks at the end of November 2016 between the end of a home series vs South Africa and a home series vs Pakistan
1 week at the end of March 2017 after a tour of India
1 week at the start of November 2017 between a tour of India and the start of a home Ashes summer
1 week in February 2018 between an away Chappell-Hadlee series and a tour of South Africa
The last 3 weeks of March 2019
3 weeks in February 2020 between a home ODI series vs India and a tour of South Africa.
Unless Cricket Australia has a significant rethink about scheduling, I can't see how the Big Bash is going to be a success with the cricketing public.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Yeah I mentioned that in my post. But the atmosphere at last night's game was good and the crowd wasn't huge. It needs to maintain decent crowds but they do not need to massive.
Tricia McMillan
U19 Captain
I fell asleep maybe 8-10 overs into the 6ers innings (give me a break, it was like 3:30 a.m. here by that point), but they were on cruise control for the target by that point.
Glad I stayed up to watch most of it though.
Glad I stayed up to watch most of it though.
Nate
You'll Never Walk Alone
Thoroughly enjoyed the night. 
Anyone expecting more than 15k at the ground was seriously kidding themselves. Sixers have half the support of the Thunder, and I'm a bit surprised that the season was launched at the SCG.
Regardless, it was a great evening's entertainment, can't wait for the next three games.
Some quick thoughts -
The Sixers were a level above professionally, the gap was quite clear. The Heat looked limp, and we'll have sterner tests to come. Ground fielding left a little to be desired. Brett Lee looked seriously quick. MacGill! Ah, MacGill. So, so good to see him bowling well and fired up. Our bowling attack is clearly our strength, and is possibly the best in the comp imo. Dan Christian looked fantastic technically, and as stupid as it is, I couldn't help but further my want to see him in the Test Team. James Hopes is as entertaining a blank blackboard.
Finally, despite all the security, a chick managed to take one of the pink beanbags and walk out of the stadium with it. Winner.
Anyone expecting more than 15k at the ground was seriously kidding themselves. Sixers have half the support of the Thunder, and I'm a bit surprised that the season was launched at the SCG.
Regardless, it was a great evening's entertainment, can't wait for the next three games.
Some quick thoughts -
The Sixers were a level above professionally, the gap was quite clear. The Heat looked limp, and we'll have sterner tests to come. Ground fielding left a little to be desired. Brett Lee looked seriously quick. MacGill! Ah, MacGill. So, so good to see him bowling well and fired up. Our bowling attack is clearly our strength, and is possibly the best in the comp imo. Dan Christian looked fantastic technically, and as stupid as it is, I couldn't help but further my want to see him in the Test Team. James Hopes is as entertaining a blank blackboard.
Finally, despite all the security, a chick managed to take one of the pink beanbags and walk out of the stadium with it. Winner.
Spikey
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sydney thunder mock team
warner
gayle
smith
tim '***y' cruickshank
ben dunk (+)
uh usman.
jason 'oh my god what is that' floros
abbott
doran
dougeh
fidel-eh
Philpson, Butterworth, Bills, Armstrong, Day, Hughes on the sidelines
that's like half what i want and half what i expect. Philpson or Armstrong could come in for Dunk. i think butterworth is still injured. Usman is really out of place down there at 6 but whatever
warner
gayle
smith
tim '***y' cruickshank
ben dunk (+)
uh usman.
jason 'oh my god what is that' floros
abbott
doran
dougeh
fidel-eh
Philpson, Butterworth, Bills, Armstrong, Day, Hughes on the sidelines
that's like half what i want and half what i expect. Philpson or Armstrong could come in for Dunk. i think butterworth is still injured. Usman is really out of place down there at 6 but whatever
Andre
International Regular
Haha yeah I saw that. One bloke had one and got chased down by a security bloke but she got away with it. They looked pretty comfortable the beanbags actually!
Must admit I enjoyed being in the crowd - cricket was pretty good standard and it was great to see MacGill again, I'm a huge fan. Still rips them.
Only thing I thought was a bit try hard was the fireworks, a bit tacky and held the game up for 5 or so mins.
To be honest, though, good on Cricket Australia for having a go with this thing. Getting a bit tired of everyone bagging the concept, they needed to do something to get the non die-hards interested in the game because the Shield and Ryobi Cup simply don't get anyone but real cricket lovers following. Timing of it isn't great but they can fix that, at least there is something to work with as a product, give it a chance.
Andre
International Regular
Saw Floros played grade for Northern Districts today so he won't be playing tonight. Does anyone know if he has moved to Sydney permanently?
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Pretty sure he's just here for the holidays because he's family is from Canberra. Will probably play a bit of grade when he's not being picked by the Thunder to keep fresh and then head back up to Queensland in the new year. Just guessing though.
