stephen
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I for one follow Queensland closely and support them. But the Shield really is just a nursery for international cricketers.Is that all it exists for, 'Australian selection'? Are there not fans of the state sides, who like the competition for what it is and not merely as some sort of 'nursery' for the international sides?
The Big Bash is where you get the opportunity to see overseas pros and big crowds. It's played over the Christmas break.
I used to regularly go to Queensland ODD games when I was younger but now that they're all played in October and in locations not conducive to stopping off after work, combined with the young family means I don't go any more. While I was doing this we'd get crowds of 4000 on an average evening. Sometimes they would get up to 7000 and sometimes as few as 3000.
Crowds are typically much lower now due to the timing of the ODD season, fewer games played and the Big Bash replacing it as the "after work" and holiday match.