SA Footy

Cricket Australia has reduced the length of the KFC BBL regular season by more than a quarter following feedback from fans, broadcasters and players that last summer's tournament was too long.

The ninth edition of the Big Bash League will see 56 regular season games played in just 42 days, down from 54 days last summer, with all but a handful of those 56 matches to be played during the school holiday period.

The six-week regular season will run from December 17 to January 27 - almost two weeks shorter than last summer - and be followed by a revamped finals series, the details of which will be announced on Thursday along with the full tournament fixture.

The regular season will culminate with seven matches in four days over the January long weekend, with all eight teams to play at least once, including the return of big-time cricket to Adelaide Oval on January 26.

The late rush of games could mean the teams who qualify for the finals won’t be decided until that long weekend, with hopes it will provide a dramatic climax to the regular season.

A 42-day regular season is just two days longer than the regular season two summers ago, which was the last before the tournament was expanded to a full home-and-away competition.

Alistair Dobson, CA's new Head of the BBL, said the response to a shorter season from fans, players, clubs and broadcasters has been overwhelmingly positive.

"No one that we had in through this process has had any objection to the shorter season," he said.

"It was overwhelming feedback primarily from fans, but players wanted to play more cricket in a shorter period and all our key stakeholders were on board with that."

Dobson said ensuring the vast majority of regular season games were played during the school holidays, making them more accessible to families, was a major focus of the new-look fixture.

The absence of men’s international white-ball cricket in Australia this January has helped CA condense the season; in previous years, the BBL has taken a night off on days when Australia's men's team has played. But in a major change to the international schedule this season, Australia's men's team will play a three-game ODI series in India on January 14-19, meaning the BBL will take centre stage in Australia at the height of summer.

Just mentioned on SEN that finals will be a final 5 system held over 2 weeks

Thursday, January 30: Elimination final (4th v 5th)

Friday, January 31: Qualifying final (1st v 2nd)

Saturday, February 1: ‘Knockout’ final (3rd v winner of elimination final)

Thursday, February 6: ‘Challenger’ final (Loser of qualifying final v winner of ‘knockout’ final)

Saturday, February 8: Final (Winner of qualifying final v winner of ‘challenger’ final)

BBL09 AUSTRALIA DAY WEEKEND FIXTURE (AEDT)

Friday, January 24:

Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena, 6.10pm

Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers at Optus Stadium, 9.10pm

Saturday January 25:

Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades at SCG, 3.40pm

Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat at MCG, 7.10pm

Sunday January 26:

Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers at Sydney Showground Stadium, 2,45pm

Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm

Monday January 27 Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat at Marvel Stadium, 2.45pm.

Armchair expert wrote:Thursday, January 30: Elimination final (4th v 5th)

Friday, January 31: Qualifying final (1st v 2nd)

Saturday, February 1: ‘Knockout’ final (3rd v winner of elimination final)

Thursday, February 6: ‘Challenger’ final (Loser of qualifying final v winner of ‘knockout’ final)

Saturday, February 8: Final (Winner of qualifying final v winner of ‘challenger’ final)

Geez, that's heavily weighted to finishing top 2.

First and 2nd need to win 1 of 2 chances to play in the GF.
3rd needs to win BOTH the Knockout and the Challenger to make the GF.
4th and 5th need to win 4 finals in a row to lift the cup.

Assuming games are 50:50 come finals, then your chances of lifting the cup are as follows:

1st: 37.5%
2nd: 37.5%
3rd: 12.5%
4th: 6.25%
5th: 6.25%

That's a massive drop from 2nd to 3rd.

Jim05 wrote:Just mentioned on SEN that finals will be a final 5 system held over 2 weeks

Everybody wins a prize.

Armchair expert wrote:Thursday, January 30: Elimination final (4th v 5th)

Friday, January 31: Qualifying final (1st v 2nd)

Saturday, February 1: ‘Knockout’ final (3rd v winner of elimination final)

Thursday, February 6: ‘Challenger’ final (Loser of qualifying final v winner of ‘knockout’ final)

Saturday, February 8: Final (Winner of qualifying final v winner of ‘challenger’ final)

BBL09 AUSTRALIA DAY WEEKEND FIXTURE (AEDT)

Friday, January 24:

Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena, 6.10pm

Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers at Optus Stadium, 9.10pm

Saturday January 25:

Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades at SCG, 3.40pm

Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat at MCG, 7.10pm

Sunday January 26:

Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers at Sydney Showground Stadium, 2,45pm

Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm

Monday January 27 Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat at Marvel Stadium, 2.45pm.

A bit selfish from a SA perspective, we get the NYE clash and Australia Day, oh well, good for the kids.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/dale-st ... 2019-10-08

Dale Steyn signs for the Melbourne Stars.

De Villiers and Steyn topping up their Super.

We renewed the family tickets for this season. Like the 'shorter' season, hate the 'finals' set up.

Trader wrote:

Armchair expert wrote:Thursday, January 30: Elimination final (4th v 5th)

Friday, January 31: Qualifying final (1st v 2nd)

Saturday, February 1: ‘Knockout’ final (3rd v winner of elimination final)

Thursday, February 6: ‘Challenger’ final (Loser of qualifying final v winner of ‘knockout’ final)

Saturday, February 8: Final (Winner of qualifying final v winner of ‘challenger’ final)

Geez, that's heavily weighted to finishing top 2.

First and 2nd need to win 1 of 2 chances to play in the GF.
3rd needs to win BOTH the Knockout and the Challenger to make the GF.
4th and 5th need to win 4 finals in a row to lift the cup.

Assuming games are 50:50 come finals, then your chances of lifting the cup are as follows:

1st: 37.5%
2nd: 37.5%
3rd: 12.5%
4th: 6.25%
5th: 6.25%

That's a massive drop from 2nd to 3rd.

That's the final four system with 4 v 5 to play-off for the 4th spot. Should be the final 4 system, full stop, but just to keep the masses interested, 5th has a chance. Or at least have it as the final 5 system, with the 2nd Semi on the 5th and 1st Semi on the 6th

Starts tonight

My tips for the tournament on the back of no research

Winners - Heat
Most runs - Usman
Most wickets - Khan
Spoon - Thunder

*yawn*

Why is one Thunder player wearing a yellow cap for?

whufc wrote:Why is one Thunder player wearing a yellow cap for?

Golden cap for leading tournament runs / wicket taker

Just another way to get a sponsor plug in

Armchair expert wrote:

whufc wrote:Why is one Thunder player wearing a yellow cap for?

Golden cap for leading tournament runs / wicket taker

Just another way to get a sponsor plug in

Isn’t this the first game!!

whufc wrote:

Armchair expert wrote:

whufc wrote:Why is one Thunder player wearing a yellow cap for?

Golden cap for leading tournament runs / wicket taker

Just another way to get a sponsor plug in

Isn’t this the first game!!

They swap the hat over?

and lets not forget the tactical time outs in each innings FFS

There's a good punting system to the BB that's worked over the past 5 years, back the roughies until the favourites win 3 in a row, then revert to form. The only adjustment to this is to ignore the Sydney Sixers or back against them.
Seems that with all the unknown imports, player swaps & up and comers the markets are vulnerable early.
You cop a few losses on the way but it's been profitable.
Ladbrokes have, until the year a pay out special in the first 6 overs, 3 wickets or 50 runs & they cough up. Cost them tonight.

Armchair expert wrote:

whufc wrote:Why is one Thunder player wearing a yellow cap for?

Golden cap for leading tournament runs / wicket taker

Just another way to get a sponsor plug in

you are joking surely???

Corona Man wrote:*yawn*

Like it or not I'd hardly call it boring.

I'm not a huge fan but watch it because it is still cricket, good to see the big hits, the desperate fielding and the bowlers trying to find different ways to be economical.

I love the way Ferg has found the ability and confidence to hit 6's, he backs himself even when fielders are on the fence, it certainly helped us in our ODD comp.