The Cricket Australia has decided to expand its golden egg laying goose of Big Bash League (BBL) for the next season. The BBL was expanded from 35 to 43 games in the previous edition (2017/18), where eight teams played 10 round-robin games before the knockout matches.
Australia cricket legend Shane Warne has called for CA to curb their ‘greed’ and work out a way that would be agreeable to all parties.
Next season, BBL will follow the format which is applicable in IPL- home and away format. Each of the eight franchises will take on the other teams twice in the competition. Therefore, the number of matches will be increased to 59 from 43, including the knockouts.
Shane Warne shared his frustrations on Twitter. He tweeted, “Australian Cricket should be an equal partnership between the players & the board, then everyone would be on the same page, sure they wont always agree - but if both parties attitude is - whats best for Australian Cricket & not themselves - then Cricket & the fans would b happy”
Australian Cricket should be an equal partnership between the players & the board, then everyone would be on the same page, sure they won’t always agree - but if both parties attitude is - what’s best for Australian Cricket & not themselves - then Cricket & the fans would b happy https://t.co/c4HGUonTFX
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) April 20, 2018
He also tweeted, " Ps And hopefully greed would then be thrown out the door too ! For example - it’s ridiculous that the BBL will have a lot more games next season & beyond - It’s a great comp & less is more should be the attitude - not let’s put more games on for $$ - diluting a wonderful product "
Ps And hopefully greed would then be thrown out the door too ! For example - it’s ridiculous that the BBL will have a lot more games next season & beyond - It’s a great comp & less is more should be the attitude - not let’s put more games on for $$ - diluting a wonderful product
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) April 20, 2018
Former Australian pacer Rodney Hogg also slammed the expansion move.
Cricket Australia is a corporation without a share price. It has lost its cricket sole and the gap between the players and administration gets wider by the day.
— Rodney Hogg (@RMHogg) April 20, 2018