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Brendon McCullum has called for New Zealand’s increased participation in the Big Bash League later this year if the availability of foreign players, and international cricket in general, remains restricted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
There are positive signs that the Australian season could take shape as scheduled, there is even hope that the men’s T20 World Cup can be played in October, with all efforts made to allow the lucrative series against India to survive. Cricket Australia has started talks with the federal government about protocols that should be implemented to allow international teams to visit later in the year.
While there are still many hurdles to cross before full-fledged international sport can take place, progress has already been made on the Australia-New Zealand ties that will resume with the Warriors rugby team arriving in Tamworth, New South Wales over the weekend to prepare for the resumption of the NRL later this month and there are government-level talks about a travel “bubble” between the two countries.
“If there is a shortage of international cricket, what an opportunity for the Big Bash, which if we are honest, has probably been delayed a little late, what a great opportunity to really transform that in the eyes of Australian sports fans,” McCullum, who he had eight seasons with the Brisbane Heat he said SEN radio. “And I think it is a great opportunity to perhaps bring a New Zealand team to the Big Bash or use New Zealand players as local players because there may be a clear lack of players abroad.”
“A little creative thinking. It may only be for a season, but we have to prepare for the long term if you’re going to grow the game, it may have some value.”
However, if New Zealand’s international players don’t play in December and January (they are expected to have a visit from Pakistan), NZC would probably see it as an opportunity to have them available for the T20 Super Smash, which usually runs concurrently with the first part of the Big Bash since mid-December.
One of the contingency plans in place in case the next season is cut short is the possibility of Australia and New Zealand playing each other if movement between those two countries is more feasible than a larger international trip. Two ODIs from the reduced series remain to be played in March plus three T20Is that were to be hosted in New Zealand.
Big Bash will mark its tenth anniversary in the 2020-21 season and, prior to the pandemic, it had commissioned a review by David Barham, the television executive who was central to BBL’s rise while on Channel 10, about what what could be done to revitalize competition. The most intriguing suggestion from the review was the possibility of four-inning T20 matches in an attempt to ensure the contests are alive longer.
