Will the Big Bash cripple our Test chances?

By Tim Barrow
Updated November 6 2012 - 3:00am, first published December 16 2011 - 5:26am
Will the Big Bash cripple our Test chances?
Will the Big Bash cripple our Test chances?

IS THE Big Bash a welcome distraction or curse of wretched timing for Cricket Australia?There’s little doubt what Phil Hughes thinks, after withdrawing from the Sydney Thunder team, to focus on playing for the Chairman’s XI in the three-day Indian tour match in Canberra starting Monday. Fair enough too, with the axe sharpening ever since Martin Guptill and Chris Martin gave him nightmares in Brisbane and Hobart.Australian cricket is reeling after losing to New Zealand at home for the first time in a quarter of a century.But there is a lot to like about the new Twenty20 competition, even if the scheduling around the Test commitments may not be ideal.The fast food version of the game should never have been a state-by-state or international replica of the one day and Test formats.It needs its own identity and the wider public should think differently about Twenty20.Rather than maintaining traditional cricket allegiances, this competition should be viewed as something closer to the NRL, where players can be contracted and traded.Bringing Matthew Hayden, Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne out of retirement and adding a smattering of overseas talent only helps add to the lustre.In short, it’s a shiny offering to a society suffering from an increasingly short attention span.It’s also a valuable commercial opportunity for CA.There’s no doubting the entertainment value, so the challenge is encouraging the public to tap into supporting a team.For cricket fans in the Illawarra and South Coast, it can be difficult sometimes identifying with a team from up the road in Sydney.Many from Shoalhaven Heads and Warilla will be cheering one of their favourite sons, NSW batsman Nic Maddinson, and the Sydney Sixers.Adding to the Illawarra flavour, Sixers paceman Brett Lee was born in Wollongong.However, there’s also appeal to the Sydney Thunder, given they have superstars Chris Gayle and Dave Warner in their arsenal.But the new Twenty20 carnival has arrived at a dangerous time for CA, with Hughes struggling and Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting’s desire to prolong their Test careers.CA recognised this, organising a batting camp for the Australian squad in Melbourne prior to the start of the Indian series.If nothing else it’s a chance to refocus before a Test series which will define the future for Australian cricket.The only real answer to the original question will come on Boxing Day.The Big Bash League should be a raging success, but its positioning among the crowded summer schedule will be cause for debate if Australia is humbled by India.

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