Dead Meat
School Boy/Girl Cricketer
Listened to the Geek & Friends podcast today where they chatted about the success of the BBL and what administrators of T20 in the UK could learn from it. Since I couldn't watch the Ford Trophy Final (outside NZ) my mind wondered how to make anyone care about the George Pie Super Smash and the glory days of NZ Conference Cricket.
https://soundcloud.com/geek-friends/geek-friends-117-i-like-big-bash-i-cannot-lie
As a young cricket tragic I remember basking over my copy of the 97 cricket almanac and the alluring scorecards of Conference Cricket.
(on a cursory google search all I could find was this classic google group chat
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.sport.cricket/zrhbJfCD2fo)
My idea is based on the premise that 20/20 is an avenue to capture a wider audience that just cricket fans, and grow the sport in general. Given NZ's small population it's perhaps unrealistic but here's my "pie in the sky" idea anyway.
1. 3 Teams Only
Outside of rep cricketers I don't think anyone truly cares about the existing domestic teams. A 3 team conference competition should in theory raise the quality of the cricket and give administrators another chance to association random nouns with geographic reasons or invent another fiery critter. Alternatively teams could be defined on CW terms - "The Engine Roomers," "Agribuiness Inc" "The Icing XI" etc
2. An Incentive to Win
The obvious one here would be entry to the BBL. The aussie's don't seem that keen (fair enough) so here's another idea - the winner plays the national team or even a current touring side in a three match series (perhaps tri series?). (I guess presuming internationals are not available - or that the conference gets preference to players of the national team). Could be a way of bringing an associate national into the fold as well.
3. 8 Week competition - 2 games per week Friday night, Sat afternoon
Each team plays successive home matches (e.g. North - plays Central Friday, then South Sat), all teams move to the next home location. There are two rounds of this home rotation.
This is obviously a lot less games than currently. But I'm going for quality over quantity here.
This is just a vague concept and obviously there are a numerous list of pratical limitations. Having the competition free to air a la' the BBL makes sense as well (unlikely as it is).
Just feel that especially after listening to the Geeks podcast, the current Georgie Pie Super Smash model dosen't have a lot going for it long term (other than that great name)
and with cricket's interest in NZ peaking following the WC it's a great time to try something else out.
Issues around scheduling, weather and international availabilities still arise but they always will.
What do you think?
https://soundcloud.com/geek-friends/geek-friends-117-i-like-big-bash-i-cannot-lie
As a young cricket tragic I remember basking over my copy of the 97 cricket almanac and the alluring scorecards of Conference Cricket.
(on a cursory google search all I could find was this classic google group chat
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.sport.cricket/zrhbJfCD2fo)
My idea is based on the premise that 20/20 is an avenue to capture a wider audience that just cricket fans, and grow the sport in general. Given NZ's small population it's perhaps unrealistic but here's my "pie in the sky" idea anyway.
1. 3 Teams Only
Outside of rep cricketers I don't think anyone truly cares about the existing domestic teams. A 3 team conference competition should in theory raise the quality of the cricket and give administrators another chance to association random nouns with geographic reasons or invent another fiery critter. Alternatively teams could be defined on CW terms - "The Engine Roomers," "Agribuiness Inc" "The Icing XI" etc
2. An Incentive to Win
The obvious one here would be entry to the BBL. The aussie's don't seem that keen (fair enough) so here's another idea - the winner plays the national team or even a current touring side in a three match series (perhaps tri series?). (I guess presuming internationals are not available - or that the conference gets preference to players of the national team). Could be a way of bringing an associate national into the fold as well.
3. 8 Week competition - 2 games per week Friday night, Sat afternoon
Each team plays successive home matches (e.g. North - plays Central Friday, then South Sat), all teams move to the next home location. There are two rounds of this home rotation.
This is obviously a lot less games than currently. But I'm going for quality over quantity here.
This is just a vague concept and obviously there are a numerous list of pratical limitations. Having the competition free to air a la' the BBL makes sense as well (unlikely as it is).
Just feel that especially after listening to the Geeks podcast, the current Georgie Pie Super Smash model dosen't have a lot going for it long term (other than that great name)
and with cricket's interest in NZ peaking following the WC it's a great time to try something else out.
Issues around scheduling, weather and international availabilities still arise but they always will.
What do you think?
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