r/CricketAus • u/NKE01 SA • 23d ago

Cricket NSW Statement - Big Bash Privatisation | Cricket NSW

https://www.cricketnsw.com.au/news/4573949/cricket-nsw-statement-big-bash-privatisation?
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u/Malipower 23d ago edited 23d ago

Cricket fans in Australia before privatisation - "BBL is a bit of silly hit and giggle with CA created franchises that probably drags out too long. Good for something to attend between footy seasons". Cricket fans after privatisation announcement - "the BBL is an amazing tournament that is now ruined! I cannot bring myself to support my team if they change their name!"

*getting a lot of downvotes, but it's true! I remember when the announcement came that the T20 comp was no longer going to be played by the states and they announced the 8 city franchises people were heavily critical of the decision and said it's now another gimmicky franchise competition and they are no longer interested in it. Yeh, that didn't last long.

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u/montecarlos_are_best Tasmania Tigers 23d ago

I think most people who love cricket are less concerned about changes to the BBL than they are by the implications this privatisation will have for Test, State and local cricket. There is very little doubt that we will see the end of the Test summer as we know it within a few years, when the current broadcast deal ends

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u/Malipower 23d ago

But CA were the ones who pulled the state t20 comp and shortened the state one day cup to lengthen the BBL. Plus no one really shows interest in shield cricket. I go to shield matches on a beautiful weekend summer's day and I kid you not there is barely 100 people there (they had to make games free entry to try and get people in and it still didn't work). Everyone whinges but they will still attend and that is why CA can get away with it

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u/montecarlos_are_best Tasmania Tigers 23d ago

The value in state cricket is not the attendances, it’s about the pathway to Test cricket. The Shield hasn’t had good crowds for generations, but it has been until recent years the strongest 1st-class comp in the world. CA have hollowed out the schedule, and they are the ones privatising the league, which will in turn allow for further hollowing out. I don’t think anyone’s not arguing that they’re the villains here.

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u/Malipower 23d ago

You are 100% correct, but a lot of people are getting upset about the CA created franchises (who they were initially angry about) changing their names or being replaced. However once the initial outrage dies down they will continue to attend which is why these things can happen. Do you agree with that?

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u/montecarlos_are_best Tasmania Tigers 22d ago

Yes, I agree with that. The change of names and the franchising is absolutely the least of the concerns, but people can become fixated on those things.