Cricket Australia announces massive BBL overhaul

1 year ago 71

Cricket Australia has announced the BBL volition beryllium reduced from 61 matches to 43 successful aboriginal seasons.

The contention moved to a afloat home-and-away docket successful 2018-19, which saw each squad play 14 matches, with the contention moving for astir 2 months.

That determination coincided with a diminution successful crowds, TV ratings and the prime of on-field action, with overseas stars reluctant to perpetrate to the afloat tournament.

Cricket Australia is facing expanding contention from overseas leagues, specified arsenic the ILT20 tourney successful the UAE, which offers players much wealth for little work.

In August, Cricket Australia agreed to a extremist woody which volition spot the BBL's all-time starring runscorer, Chris Lynn, play 11 of Adelaide's 14 matches before departing to instrumentality up a affluent declaration successful the UAE league.

The 43-match format was past utilized successful 2017-18, with each squad playing 10 matches successful the home-and-away season.

That volition beryllium followed by 3 finals, with Cricket Australia yet to corroborate the format.

The BBL antecedently played 2 semi finals, with the winners advancing to the final.

Another enactment could beryllium that utilized by the WBBL, wherever 3rd and 4th play disconnected for the close to conscionable 2nd, with the victor of that lucifer playing the squad that finished 1st successful the final.

A shortened play with 4 teams advancing to the knockout stages would spot accrued value connected each lucifer of the regular season.

One of the criticisms of the 61-match season, which successful caller years has seen 5 of the 8 teams beforehand to the finals, has been the ample fig of matches with seemingly small relevance.

In a statement, Cricket Australia said the shorter BBL would let "increased subordinate availability, greater proportionality of prime-time matches and stronger alignment with schoolhouse holidays."

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