![Bendigo's Kyle Chant was one of the young stars of this season's Twenty20 competition. Bendigo's Kyle Chant was one of the young stars of this season's Twenty20 competition.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-QHeEGweNnSiKHGS2UyF8yp/f946ab57-4f66-410f-9f5a-39dca93b0a21.JPG/r0_65_1248_1085_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
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HAVING canvassed a wide variety of opinions on the Bendigo Big Bash concept over the past few days, two things are clear.
Captains are open to the Big Bash idea and excited at the thought of perhaps something new for Bendigo cricket.
Little has changed throughout the seven-year history of the BDCA’s T20 competition and there was a common theme among most club captains that giving the product a freshen up would be welcome.
On the other hand, most club officials are wary of such an overhaul that would bring in a five-team Big Bash style competition in place of the current Twenty20 format.
Among the common themes expressed by presidents was the Twenty20 competition is the ideal opportunity to expose their club’s younger talent to the next level.
But it’s not just younger players, it’s also an opportunity to give players who may be toiling away in the second XI, and even the third XI, a crack as well.
This season about 150 BDCA players padded up in the Twenty20, whereas the proposed five-team Bendigo Big Bash with squads of 15 only allows for 75 players to be picked in the draft.
Clearly, Big Bash opportunities are minimised, but that’s how the competition becomes a spectacle when each of the franchises is stacked with star power.
Plus presidents say the Tuesday night Twenty20 games are a good opportunity to bring together the junior and senior clubs.
All valid points.
While the original Big Bash idea was put forward a fortnight ago with a view of replacing the current Twenty20 format, whose to say the two can’t co-exist with each other?
So here’s another idea.
Could the BDCA have its Twenty20 competition run and won by the Christmas-New Year break?
Clubs could still play their five Tuesday night round robin games starting late October as per the current format, only the Twenty 20 culminates in a QEO triple-header day of finals.
This season the last Saturday before the Christmas-New Year break was a one-day round.
Perhaps the BDCA instead uses that last Saturday - which next season would be December 19 - to play two semi-finals, plus the final at the QEO.
Remember, the BDCA came back in January a week later than usual this season because of the Australian Country titles.
The BDCA will get that week back next year, where the game that would have been played on December 19 can be caught up on.
With Twenty20 done and dusted - keeping the clubs content - could the door then be open to the Big Bash being introduced?
All the ideas that have been put forward over the past fortnight still stand as far as the five newly-created franchises with players selected via a draft and each BDCA club being given an opportunity to host a game.
The only significant change to what has been suggested is there would most likely need to be two games played a night at separate venues instead of a weekly stand-alone match.
If the competition was to be held on a Wednesday as suggested, two games per round while one team has a bye could be played on January 14, 21, 28, February 4 - then have a week off for Melbourne Country Week - and February 18, climaxing with a Sunday final at the QEO on February 22.
By the BDCA already having held its Twenty20, that competition doubles as an opportunity for players to put their hand up and show they will be a Big Bash franchise asset.
Take Bendigo’s Kyle Chant for example - someone who may initially have been considered a draft roughie, but had we been picking players on the back of this season’s Twenty20 when he averaged 49, he becomes keenly sought-after.
For the record, Chant (pictured) went at pick No.27 to Miggy’s Magic Men in last week’s mock draft.
By playing the Big Bash into February, there’s the chance for players who may be battling for form to spend extra time in the middle with finals on the horizon.
Or for those players whose finals chances on a Saturday are long gone, it may also help to keep their interest levels cricket intact.
After all, cricket can become a drag when all you've got to look forward to is the tomato sangers at arvo tea on a Saturday.