Big Bash League looks to fix slow pitches to attract bigger crowds

Cricket Australia will give attention to enhancing pitches for the subsequent evolution of the Massive Bash and contemplate making a advisor available for all grounds.

The BBL bounced again to life this summer time, with the shortened season prompting a 27 per cent enhance in crowd averages in contrast with final 12 months.

However officers are effectively conscious the competitors stays at a vital stage, with pitches one matter on the agenda.

Docklands and Sydney Showground, two non-Take a look at venues commonly used within the competitors, have drawn exterior criticism in latest seasons.

The showground was significantly problematic this summer time, with the venue remaining the slowest-scoring in BBL historical past.

The dour nature of the Sydney Thunder’s loss to Perth this month prompted Ricky Ponting to name for the Thunder to maneuver to Canberra, labelling the wicket “substandard” for the BBL.

The Thunder has made it clear it won’t abandon Western Sydney, with the area essential to Cricket Australia as one of many nation’s most populated and culturally numerous areas.

BBL officers didn’t need to touch upon the efficiency of particular person wickets. Nonetheless, they know the usual of pitches is necessary to followers.

“That is a fairly clear transient from our perspective — circumstances which might be conducive to plenty of runs and shut video games.

“As we begin to drive crowds again, making certain the cricket is as world-class as it may be is changing into increasingly necessary in a fairly aggressive market.”

In Sydney, each the SCG and showground fell effectively beneath the competitors’s common run fee of 8.25, whereas Adelaide and Hobart produced probably the most batter-friendly circumstances.

Officers might also take a look at whether or not it’s attainable to have drop-in wickets put in earlier at multi-purpose venues to make for higher pitches, with circumstances considered as the most important problem for curators.

The opportunity of a league-wide pitch advisor can be an choice. They’d work with venues to ship wickets extra consistent with the competitors’s purpose.

“By and enormous, we have had an amazing 12 months in that. We have seen some huge scores and a few actually aggressive video games,” Dobson mentioned.

“Finally it is about working carefully with our golf equipment and venues in order that they perceive what works finest for the BBL and to ship on that.”

The league will even seek the advice of golf equipment on modifications that would lock in abroad gamers for the finals, and whether or not to shorten the WBBL to 10 rounds, with the set up of a 3rd umpire for all ladies’s matches seemingly.

AAP