BBL talk.

[lemmon]

Re: BBL talk.

While I'm still not a fan of the BBL and think it's a version of the game that just threatens the standard of cricket overall I do acknowledged that it's popular with the fans.

How much of that is because of the import players that seem to add a bit to the games?

I almost think the competition has grown past the big name imports. Franchises have gone for lesser known but proven performers - Khan, Archer, Roy, Nabi - that the normal cricket fan doesn't know, but will add a lot individual sides.

With Gayle not playing, KP finishing and McCullum not far away, the sides are going to look more and more at the more measured option.

I think we've seen a real shift away from the imports being the spectacle player due to their reputation, and more about the pragmatic influence they can have on the competition.

[Ozza]

Re: BBL talk.

While I'm still not a fan of the BBL and think it's a version of the game that just threatens the standard of cricket overall I do acknowledged that it's popular with the fans.

How much of that is because of the import players that seem to add a bit to the games?

On your first point - I think that the BBL is making cricket's popularity sustainable for the future. My 7 year old is a cricket fan, but I'm not sure he would be as keen on it if not for the BBL. He is interested enough to ask what the scores are in test cricket, and to watch for short periods. But has sat through entire Big Bash games live since he was 5, and will watch on TV for as long as he can before he is sent to bed.

His enjoyment and interest in the BBL is what will hopefully make him a lifelong fan of all forms of the game.

In terms of the import players adding to it. I think they do definitely ADD to the games, but I don't think it necessarily needs to be 'big names' - as some of the more obscure name imports are actually becoming notable here because of their performances.

[Twodogs]

Re: BBL talk.

I think you are right in the short term T20 will underwrite test cricket but that won't go on. T20 will want to retain its own revenues.

[Topdog]

Re: BBL talk.

Good to see Wade get some form back through the BBL. He is finished from the Australian team but served us well overall

[Bornadog]

Re: BBL talk.

Good to see Wade get some form back through the BBL. He is finished from the Australian team but served us well overall

Great finish to the game with Hurricanes getting up.

[Sedat]

Re: BBL talk.

On your first point - I think that the BBL is making cricket's popularity sustainable for the future. My 7 year old is a cricket fan, but I'm not sure he would be as keen on it if not for the BBL. He is interested enough to ask what the scores are in test cricket, and to watch for short periods. But has sat through entire Big Bash games live since he was 5, and will watch on TV for as long as he can before he is sent to bed.

His enjoyment and interest in the BBL is what will hopefully make him a lifelong fan of all forms of the game.

In terms of the import players adding to it. I think they do definitely ADD to the games, but I don't think it necessarily needs to be 'big names' - as some of the more obscure name imports are actually becoming notable here because of their performances.

BBL is a marketers wet dream - a fast paced version of the game with all the 'highlights' (ie: 6's and 4's) all boiled down into a 3hr experience for today's short attention span/instant gratification generation. I'm clearly not the target market as I am a cricket tragic for the long form - there was more drama on the 4th day of the SAF v India test a couple of nights ago than there will be in 20 years of T20 junk. And it is junk for me because there is no value preserving wickets when batting or taking wickets when bowling. Some of the shots played and techniques on display are complete and utter shit. And there is no vested interest in the teams apart from the one-state teams - it is sport purely as entertainment, and once the novelty wears off there will not be an incentive to go and watch. Also there are so many journeymen hacks running around (overseas and state based) that it diminishes any good cricket that is played.

I think as the competition settles down there will be a gradual drop-off in crowds and ratings - so many players with significant limitations are not exposed in this form, hence why you see grade level hacks like Clive Rose, Chris Green and Johan Botha running around. The comp will expand, which is a worry as the current season feels like it has gone on for an eternity already.

[Topdog]

Re: BBL talk.

BBL is a marketers wet dream - a fast paced version of the game with all the 'highlights' (ie: 6's and 4's) all boiled down into a 3hr experience for today's short attention span/instant gratification generation. I'm clearly not the target market as I am a cricket tragic for the long form

...

I think as the competition settles down there will be a gradual drop-off in crowds and ratings - so many players with significant limitations are not exposed in this form, hence why you see grade level hacks like Clive Rose, Chris Green and Johan Botha running around. The comp will expand, which is a worry as the current season feels like it has gone on for an eternity already.

As you said you are not the target market clearly. I can only see it growing.

[Twodogs]

Re: BBL talk.

BBL is a marketers wet dream - a fast paced version of the game with all the 'highlights' (ie: 6's and 4's) all boiled down into a 3hr experience for today's short attention span/instant gratification generation. I'm clearly not the target market as I am a cricket tragic for the long form - there was more drama on the 4th day of the SAF v India test a couple of nights ago than there will be in 20 years of T20 junk. And it is junk for me because there is no value preserving wickets when batting or taking wickets when bowling. Some of the shots played and techniques on display are complete and utter shit. And there is no vested interest in the teams apart from the one-state teams - it is sport purely as entertainment, and once the novelty wears off there will not be an incentive to go and watch. Also there are so many journeymen hacks running around (overseas and state based) that it diminishes any good cricket that is played.

I think as the competition settles down there will be a gradual drop-off in crowds and ratings - so many players with significant limitations are not exposed in this form, hence why you see grade level hacks like Clive Rose, Chris Green and Johan Botha running around. The comp will expand, which is a worry as the current season feels like it has gone on for an eternity already.

They do seem to have a T20 World Cup every 3 months.

[Axe Man]

Re: BBL talk.

Good to see Wade get some form back through the BBL. He is finished from the Australian team but served us well overall

Has looked just OK to me. A quick check of his stats: 121 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate of 120 - hardly setting the world on fire.

[Axe Man]

Re: BBL talk.

Great finish to the game with Hurricanes getting up.

What did people think of the obstructing the field call? I really can't understand what Ross was trying to do, the shortest way to the crease is in a straight line. Had he continued on his path he would have been a reasonable chance of blocking the throw anyway.

[Ozza]

Re: BBL talk.

BBL is a marketers wet dream - a fast paced version of the game with all the 'highlights' (ie: 6's and 4's) all boiled down into a 3hr experience for today's short attention span/instant gratification generation. I'm clearly not the target market as I am a cricket tragic for the long form - there was more drama on the 4th day of the SAF v India test a couple of nights ago than there will be in 20 years of T20 junk. And it is junk for me because there is no value preserving wickets when batting or taking wickets when bowling. Some of the shots played and techniques on display are complete and utter shit. And there is no vested interest in the teams apart from the one-state teams - it is sport purely as entertainment, and once the novelty wears off there will not be an incentive to go and watch. Also there are so many journeymen hacks running around (overseas and state based) that it diminishes any good cricket that is played.

I think as the competition settles down there will be a gradual drop-off in crowds and ratings - so many players with significant limitations are not exposed in this form, hence why you see grade level hacks like Clive Rose, Chris Green and Johan Botha running around. The comp will expand, which is a worry as the current season feels like it has gone on for an eternity already.

Don't agree at all I'm afraid, and reading your post I'd have to doubt that you have watched too much of it.
The game is very very tactical. Your point on not preserving/valuing wickets is way off the mark - as particularly this season, teams are placing a high priority on keeping wickets in hand to be able to launch in the back end of the innings.

Naysayers will say that the 'novelty will wear off'....but we are 7 years in to the BBL and the league is going very strongly. It is also an avenue for different types of cricketers. Sure the players you mentioned like Rose, Green and Botha might not be international test playing calibre - but not everyone can be/has to be - and they have some value in this format.

But what the league does do - is showcase more players (particularly young players) that we mightn't otherwise be exposed to. A player like Arjun Nair is a relative unknown 19 year old leg spinner who can bat - and he is an extremely skillful player - who I think we will see at international level in future.

When T20 first came in - I was a complete naysayer - hated the concept and thought it would ruin the game. I would say that I too, considered myself a cricket tragic. But I've absolutely been won over by the competition.

Your comment about there being no vested interest in teams is off the mark. My son and I are Renegades members - and its actually great to have a 'club' to follow and have a vested interest in and get to see them play several games. Australia play in Melbourne once a year for tests, and once for one-dayers. Whereas the Renegades have 5 home games we can go to, plus hopefully finals. So in that respect, we get more opportunity to follow them as a team.

And the coverage is fantastic. The insights from the likes of Ponting and Waugh - as well as hearing live on the field from Hodge, or McCullum or Pieterson about the tactics taking place - is outstanding for viewers.

[Ozza]

Re: BBL talk.

They do seem to have a T20 World Cup every 3 months.

There has been 6 in total since 2007. The next one is in 2020.

[Ozza]

Re: BBL talk.

What did people think of the obstructing the field call? I really can't understand what Ross was trying to do, the shortest way to the crease is in a straight line. Had he continued on his path he would have been a reasonable chance of blocking the throw anyway.

I thought the call was wrong. I don't think Ross deliberately tried to get in the way of the ball, I think he was just scampering home and lost his direction a bit - and as you say, if anything made it less likely that his body would block the ball (and in the end it hit his bat and not body anyway).

[Bornadog]

Re: BBL talk.

I thought the call was wrong. I don't think Ross deliberately tried to get in the way of the ball, I think he was just scampering home and lost his direction a bit - and as you say, if anything made it less likely that his body would block the ball (and in the end it hit his bat and not body anyway).

Should have run straight, looked suss when he changed direction last minute. 3rd ump had no choice.

[Bornadog]

Re: BBL talk.

Don't agree at all I'm afraid, and reading your post I'd have to doubt that you have watched too much of it.
The game is very very tactical. Your point on not preserving/valuing wickets is way off the mark - as particularly this season, teams are placing a high priority on keeping wickets in hand to be able to launch in the back end of the innings.

Naysayers will say that the 'novelty will wear off'....but we are 7 years in to the BBL and the league is going very strongly. It is also an avenue for different types of cricketers. Sure the players you mentioned like Rose, Green and Botha might not be international test playing calibre - but not everyone can be/has to be - and they have some value in this format.

But what the league does do - is showcase more players (particularly young players) that we mightn't otherwise be exposed to. A player like Arjun Nair is a relative unknown 19 year old leg spinner who can bat - and he is an extremely skillful player - who I think we will see at international level in future.

When T20 first came in - I was a complete naysayer - hated the concept and thought it would ruin the game. I would say that I too, considered myself a cricket tragic. But I've absolutely been won over by the competition.

Your comment about there being no vested interest in teams is off the mark. My son and I are Renegades members - and its actually great to have a 'club' to follow and have a vested interest in and get to see them play several games. Australia play in Melbourne once a year for tests, and once for one-dayers. Whereas the Renegades have 5 home games we can go to, plus hopefully finals. So in that respect, we get more opportunity to follow them as a team.

And the coverage is fantastic. The insights from the likes of Ponting and Waugh - as well as hearing live on the field from Hodge, or McCullum or Pieterson about the tactics taking place - is outstanding for viewers.

Well summed up.

I now prefer T20 to 50/50. 50/50 are the games that have become clinical and boring and really needs a revamp.

Having said that Test cricket is my favourite, but hey a bit of entertainment doesn't hurt anyone - it's all a bit of fun and great to watch. You can like all forms of the game, why not.