It is an upstart in many ways, but the growing popularity of the Big Bash League epitomises how aggressive marketing coupled with fascinating cricket could be forces of disruption.
How does any product safeguard the future? The answer is pretty simple-- engage and enthrall the youth, and the BBL has managed to achieve just that. It was established with a single point agenda of drawing families and young fans into the audience and over these years this approach has been a roaring hit.
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Though many-a-times compared with the glitz-and-glamour struck Indian Premier League, the BBL is very much different compared to the former (other than the number of teams that play the league).
Where the Indian Premier League (IPL) is more extravagant in nature and exists in a country that adores the sport of cricket, the Big Bash League, which was started in 2011 by Cricket Australia, is a “family friendly’ tournament targeted to promote cricket among kids and families in the land of the Kangaroos.
With no celebrities associated with the league, coupled with affordable ticket prices at the grounds and the fact that the BBL teams pick a social cause each, to promote during the course of the event, are factors that have made it favourable to the masses there.
In early January 2015, a report in the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ mentioned that the BBL has propelled into the list of the world’s most attended sports leagues, sitting at the ninth rank, nudging the famous Japan’s professional baseball league. This is commendable because the BBL T20 tournament was only five years old at the time of the report.
As far as the Indian Premier League is concerned, it stood at number six and was founded only two years before the BBL. Much of the credit for this goes to Cricket Australia’s unflinching commitment to keep the franchise clean and non-commercial.
The finals of the sixth season of BBL saw the Perth Scorchers celebrate their victory on the dais, once again, as they clinched their third title.
Also Read: Best XI of the Big Bash League Season 6
The current league witnessed some amazing emerging talents, while it also gave us reasons to cheer for the stars who just get better with time. Here’s a look at five such old warhorses who sizzled once again in the format which many believe is for the 'younger crop'.
#1 Brad Hodge
The veteran did not have a very encouraging start to his career way back in 1993. Unfortunately, he was facing a lot of competition to get into the national team owing to many established stars who had already cemented their spots. His International career faced a roadblock when he got a fresh lease of life through the India Premier League as the much-hyped franchise Kolkata Knight Riders roped him in for 2 years.
He took to T20 like a duck takes to water, and subsequently was handed the mantle for the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL. His career in the BBL has been one success story as his ability to keep calm under pressure scenarios is unparalleled.
Not only has he been picked for all the BBL seasons, but he also is one of the marquee players in the tournament. He holds the number 5 spot in 'players with most number of runs list (1344 in 40 innings), number 4 spot for 'most sixes by a player' (48) and 'most wins' (24). To add to the list, Hodge is the 7th best player of BBL season 6 to have scored the most runs (286).
Hodge has this remarkable quality of an old-school compassionate man. While playing for Victoria at first class level, he was also at the forefront of expressing his solidarity with Indian students, following the racist attacks on them. He participated in a street match in Melbourne between Victorian Police and Indian students to promote peace. Currently, he coaches the Gujarat Lions in IPL.
A superstar who rocked this year too, and who refuses to age!
#2 Brendon McCullum
This explosive Kiwi wicket-keeper batsman is cut-out for the shortest format, and after grabbing the attention of one and all throughout the International career, McCullum enthralled the audiences in Australia with his maverick approach to batting.
He was the captain of Brisbane Heat and he combined beautifully with Chris Lynn to annihilate the bowlers. The brute power of McCullum and the unbridled refreshment which he brings to the game makes him a darling of the masses.
Captaincy only eggs him on further, he climbed two places from last years’ rank – to number 5 now – in the list of ‘Top 10 batsmen’, throughout all the seasons of the BBL. Not just this, he still continues to have the third best strike rate (157.25), second most 4s (31) and most 6s hit (19) by a player.
The sixth season of BBL saw this magician wave his wand again as he stands number 4 for most runs (323) scored by a player. The passion with which this 35-year-old plays on the ground makes it just impossible for the audience to look away.
#3 Brad Hogg
George Bradley Hogg has been one name in the cricket industry that has been there for a really long time and like wine, he only gets better with age. With the tongue sticking out, and with a boyish smile, Hogg continues to mesmerise cricket audiences all over.
This year he switched over to Melbourne Renegades from the Perth Scorchers and stamped his authority all over the team. The chinaman continues to bamboozle batsmen with his tricks and the man continues to warm hearts of pundits and fans alike.
With such great talent, records & rewards had to come along. He features among the Top 10 of Australia’s most successful One Day International bowlers and is the second most successful spinner in terms of wickets taken. Hogg is the world's oldest top level cricket player still active, and the only player over 40 years of age to take 100 wickets in the T20 format.
He was also a member of Australia's victorious 2003 and 2007 Cricket World Cup teams. The expertise and knacks gained over all these years have only perfected with age.
His endeavour with BBL, that started in 2011, continued the upward trend as he is ranked the bowler with second highest most wickets (52). The sixth edition of the BBL fetched him 8 wickets which included the best figures of 3 for 22.
Carry on Hogg!
#4 David Hussey
There is something enigmatic about both the Hussey brothers. While the world swears by Michael, it is the other Hussey who has quietly stood the test of time to emerge as one of the finest Australian players to have played the BBL.
David Hussey has been the captain of Melbourne Stars for a long time and this was his last season as the man in charge. Unfortunately, his team could only go as far as the semi-finals, but Hussey's legacy would always be felt around the group.
D.Hussey has been with the Stars since the inception of the league in 2011, scoring 855 runs at 26.71 from 48 appearances. He made 267 appearances in Twenty20 fixtures with his ability as a batsman and off-spinner. His sharp fielding skills make him a tremendously valuable asset.
Though his figures in the sixth edition of the Big Bash League did not display the best of his potential with a meagre 137 runs scored and highest score being 29, the reason he made it to this list is because of his leadership skills and his ability to extract best out of the available resources. It was under his leadership that the Melbourne Stars beat the two-time champions - the Scorchers – and competed in the finals.
#5 Kevin Pietersen
The original big show, Kevin Pietersen, has always been associated with the Melbourne Stars and is now part of the Stars' family. His tenure with the Melbourne franchise has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride, as he continues to plunder runs for fun in the league.
Pietersen was signed by the Melbourne Stars in 2014–15 Big Bash League season, for a contract of 2 years and he was seen as a "big hit" for the 2014–15 Big Bash League. He has been a strong support for the Stars ever since. In 2016, he was one of the main reasons why his team advanced into the finals.
The Big Bash League has managed to get the best out of the mercurial character as he is currently the 8th highest run scorer in the league.
This season he has scored 268 runs at an average of 38.28 and with a strike-rate of 128.22. With these performances, he could once again force the IPL franchises to sit up and take notice come the auctions.
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