Big Bash approaching a defining crossroads as identity crisis deepens

NICK HOWSON: The new-look competition returns for its ninth edition, however, can it answer one major question - what is it for?

Zing bails. Doubleheaders. Thursday nights. Friday nights. Saturday nights. Helmet cam. On-field mics. Kiss cam. Simba cam. Dance cam. Crowd catches. Batting cages. Cheerleaders. Fireworks. Player drafts. Player auctions. Overseas signings. Bat wraps. Time outs. Slower balls. Knuckle balls. Ramp shot. Bash. Slam. Super. Premier. Blast.

Franchise and limited-overs cricket has been the home of innovation over the last decade. Nothing has been off-limits as long as it could engage the forgotten majority. The sport suddenly became cool and in vogue, including among the FOMO generation. Everyone was seemingly catered for.

But like every fad, it got greedy. The market became saturated. What made certain leagues special suddenly made them all the same. Like any music genre or film franchise, there was a tipping point when people stopped being taken for fools. Reality finally dawned, and it smelt pretty foul.

After several years of threats, the Big Bash League endured its own tipping points during its eighth edition in 2018-19. A competition many previously couldn't take their eyes off suddenly became the one people couldn't wait to end. And that was if they were still watching to begin with.

BIG BASH 2019-20 FIXTURES: Full schedule, timetable, dates for BBL09

When the biggest crowd to watch a domestic cricket match of 80,883 cramped into the MCG to watch the Melbourne Derby in January 2016, the Big Bash stopped becoming anything resembling a giggling gimmick and transformed into a sporting superpower. As it happened, that would be the competition's peak.

After the brief rise in attendances, the tournament was expanded, first to 43 games then last season to an eye-watering 59. Despite this, total turnout only went up a fraction with average crowds down by a third in three years. TV viewer numbers have followed, partly thanks to matches being split between free-to-air and subscription services.

A symptom of this downturn of interest is the dilution of the competition. More matches meant additional demands on players, leading to a lower quality of cricket. Jeopardy was sapped from dozens of games and the tournament became dangerously bloated, boring and baffling. Onlookers couldn't wait to be put out of their misery.

There are other worrying trends. Boards are happy to sanction these competitions because they automatically become breeding grounds for their own national teams. Production factories with them barely having to raise a finger, due to the exposure to high calibre players in big pressure situations.

But Cricket Australia have yet to reap the rewards. The men's team have never won the T20 World Cup. And how many of their squad for next year's showcase will contain players who have come through thanks to the competition? Andrew Tye? D'Arcy Short? It isn't exactly an extensive list.

Overseas player limits have always been strict to protect the development of homegrown players. But if that stream of talent isn't coming through, then surely that regulation needs tinkering. Eighteen players from other countries are due to play in this year's competition and, no disrespect to the likes of Zahir Khan, Tymal Mills and Sandeep Lamichhane, they are hardy from the summit of the sport.

^{The Big Bash is back}

The competition's timing and draconian rules make recruitment difficult. India's players are prohibited from signing up with rival leagues, contracted England stars must prioritise their international commitments and Pakistan's best need exemptions from the PCB, which can later be withdrawn. Australia, of course, have their own Test ambitions to balance.

Limited overs cricket broadly is far from a safe entity. Last year, the UAE T20 League was cancelled completed after franchises failed to sell. The inaugural Euro T20 Slam was postponed two weeks before it was due to begin. The Bangladesh Cricket Board have taken control of their T20 competition due to conflict with the teams. Even tournaments which have gone ahead have suffered financial problems, such as the Canada GT20.

If a tree falls in the forest and no-one is there, does it still make a noise? Similarly, if a cricket competition takes place and no one watches, then does it actually matter?

Unable to regularly supplement the national team, deemed unwatchable and unedifying by the masses as well as undesirable for the best overseas players. Is the Big Bash now, also, unnecessary?

BIG BASH 2019-20 SQUADS: Full team lists for BBL09

Organisers have moved to arrest at least one area of concern: the schedule. Though there are two more matches, they have been condensed over a shorter period, seven-and-a-half weeks rather than nearly nine. The final rounds of group games are closely knit in the hope of producing some grandstand finales. Additionally, a new knock-out stage, mirroring the IPL, has been introduced adding jeopardy and hopefully drama.

Steve Smith's return, a genuine window for Australia's international players to feature and a rare citing of AB de Villiers are among the other positives. Australia host the women's and men's T20 World Cups next year and are favourites to do the double. There is a feel-good factor about the other formats too.

You certainly can't say everyone isn't trying.

But the whole effort does have a 'last chance saloon' feel about it. If these changes cannot galvanise an upturn in interest, then you wonder how much longer the competition - celebrating its 10th edition in 2020-21 - can be considered a genuine top tier franchise competition. That status may have already eroded away completely for some, but it might become a universal feeling if the next two months fail to ignite.

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