2016-17 Big Bash Book
Archie Mac |Published: 2016
Pages: 185
Author: Lane, Daniel
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
Rating: 3.5 stars
The Big Bash Book (BBB) like its namesake is becoming bigger and more encompassing each year and for this season the BBB has also included a section on the Women’s Big Bash for season 2016-17.
The inaugural Women’s Big Bash last season was a huge success with phenomenal TV ratings and strong live crowd figures. The BBB provides a recap of the women’s season and preview of the upcoming matches. The Women’s Big Bash is actually longer than the men’s competition and it is a credit to the skills and athleticism of the women cricketers that the season held the interest of fans throughout.
While the women’s Big Bash is set to flourish and is deservedly featured in the BBB, it is the men’s game and the international flavour that takes up the majority of the book and this year there are more global stars featured than ever before: Kieron Pollard, Kane Richardson, Brendum McCullum, Stuart Broad, Kumar Sangakkara and Kevin Pietersen join the Australian stars including Mitch Johnson who is expected to play every game with the Perth Scorchers.
The great thing about the Big Bash is that despite all the international stars some of the best players each year turn out to be lesser known Australian players. This is demonstrated by the number of young guns who made the combined team from last season, including Brisbane Heat’s Chris Lynn and Andre Russell from Sydney Thunder.
Reading BBB brings back memories of just what a great season 2015-16 was. The highlight was the pulsating final between the Melbourne Stars and the Sydney Thunder which saw Mike Hussey finish his career in style.
The season was huge and the interest in the Big Bash was so great, including a crowd of almost 81,000 at a single match, that if people didn’t realise it before everyone now knows it is here to stay.
The BBB, author is again Daniel Lane, which is no surprise after the success of the inaugural edition in 2015. He sticks to the same winning format providing a recap of the previous season and then a full preview of the teams for Big Bash six. There is also a section titled ‘Big Performances’ which provides four pen pics from each team.
The players covered in the pen pics are not always household names, although there are plenty of those too, but some of the lesser known and upcoming champions. These short previews are well written and feature some great anecdotes. Lane keeps all the articles brief which make them ideal to read during the very few down moments at a Big Bash match.
The BBB is similar to a Big Bash match. It is full of colour and excitement and there is never a dull moment. Every fan of the Big Bash will saviour a copy and with Christmas just around the corner it is the ideal gift for the cricket fan.
Last season I unfortunately gave the kiss of death to the Hobart Hurricanes and with the weight of my selection on their shoulders they finished a disappointing seventh. This season the Hurricanes might stand a chance as the Mac is tipping Brisbane Heat with Brendum McCullum to star.
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