Getting the domestic schedule right
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 12:29 pm
With the proliferation of T20 cricket, couple with a crowded international calendar, it has seemed to me for some time that the powers that be in Australia have got it a bit wrong in relation to domestic cricket. I've long trumpeted the idea of having the ACT come in as a seventh team, but that isn't the answer. In fact the more I think about it, having an odd number of teams would only cause even more scheduling problems. My main concern, strangely enough, is for the Big Bash League, which I think can become a big success long term, providing the scheduling is done in such away that the product is the best that it can be.
In Australian domestic cricket, as is the case with most other Test match playing nations, three forms of the game are played at domestic level, mirroring what happens at international level. For this current season, we have the Sheffield Shield, the Ryobi Cup, and the franchise-based KFC Big Bash League. What I would like to see happen with these competitions is that they are played in accordance with national team fixtures.
October is when the Oz domestic season kicks off. Six teams play each other twice, allowing for each team to play ten matches per season. The Sheffield Shield, therefore, could be played from October to the end of December, with the final being played in the first week of January, when the last home Test match of the season is traditionally being played in Sydney. If a player is dropped from the Test team, they go back to their Shield team and try and regain form.
From January through to the first week of February, the Ryobi Cup could be taking place, running along side international ODI's, with some T20I's at the beginning of February. After that, then stage the Big Bash League, allowing for the Oz international players to take part for the duration, rather than just for one or two games. From the second week of February through to the middle of March has perfect weather for night time cricket, and the crowds would come out in their droves. The football code start toward the end of march, so there's no double booking of venues.
The only glitch to all of this is when Australia are touring in March to places like New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies. India tours potentially fall into the equation too. Short of touring these places when the IPL is on is probably not want the likes of Shane Watson, Dave Warner and others would want. A possible solution might be to play the Sydney Test earlier in the season, making the Boxing Day Test the last Test of the summer, moving everything else forward a week and a bit. Make the Ryobi Cup five rounds only, plus finals, with the same number of T20I's, and play the Big Bash (seven rounds only, plus finals) during February. Play the Kiwis, Saffas, Windies in March and the first week of April, then move on to the IPL. Job done.
In Australian domestic cricket, as is the case with most other Test match playing nations, three forms of the game are played at domestic level, mirroring what happens at international level. For this current season, we have the Sheffield Shield, the Ryobi Cup, and the franchise-based KFC Big Bash League. What I would like to see happen with these competitions is that they are played in accordance with national team fixtures.
October is when the Oz domestic season kicks off. Six teams play each other twice, allowing for each team to play ten matches per season. The Sheffield Shield, therefore, could be played from October to the end of December, with the final being played in the first week of January, when the last home Test match of the season is traditionally being played in Sydney. If a player is dropped from the Test team, they go back to their Shield team and try and regain form.
From January through to the first week of February, the Ryobi Cup could be taking place, running along side international ODI's, with some T20I's at the beginning of February. After that, then stage the Big Bash League, allowing for the Oz international players to take part for the duration, rather than just for one or two games. From the second week of February through to the middle of March has perfect weather for night time cricket, and the crowds would come out in their droves. The football code start toward the end of march, so there's no double booking of venues.
The only glitch to all of this is when Australia are touring in March to places like New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies. India tours potentially fall into the equation too. Short of touring these places when the IPL is on is probably not want the likes of Shane Watson, Dave Warner and others would want. A possible solution might be to play the Sydney Test earlier in the season, making the Boxing Day Test the last Test of the summer, moving everything else forward a week and a bit. Make the Ryobi Cup five rounds only, plus finals, with the same number of T20I's, and play the Big Bash (seven rounds only, plus finals) during February. Play the Kiwis, Saffas, Windies in March and the first week of April, then move on to the IPL. Job done.