TOPIC:

There is a round of Sheffield Shield matches next weekend including a game at the WACA between WA and NSW. It will be interesting to see how many of the South African tourists will turn out for their states. I would imagine the Marshes and Bancroft will play for the Warriors whilst I'm sure Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins would like a hit out with the red ball prior to leaving. It will be interesting to see how many of these guys will be released to play by CA.

Agar and Tye would have helped on Thursday but I don't think it would have made much difference. We were completely outplayed.

The decision to release players for the final is a bit bewildering though.

AM, I believe they are trying to boost the ratings by ensuring the best players are available, because the TV rights are up for negotiations during the year.
It makes it hard for the ACB to ask for millions for the big bash if they continue to take the top players out of the game during the finals.
Interestingly there is an article on Fox Sports website that indicates Foxtel wants to have the rights for all cricket for !00 million dollars.....

AM, Ratings and crowd numbers were down across the competition this year. That would worry the ACB when they want 100 million for the rights to the comp for the next 5 years would it not

It just seems that's the only answer to why they released players was to remind people and especially the TV companies that the big bash is important and they stuffed up their schedule this year.

The game was played at the time it was because channel 10 wanted to show I'm a Celebrity into the east coast at 7.30 EST, so who runs the comp, the ACB or the broadcasters?

On another note did anyone see the farce in South Africa last night with the one dayer? India bowled SA out cheaply, batted well and when they required 2 runs to win lunch was called? At that point in time only 17 overs were bowled in the Indian innings, so if it was washed out from there no one would have won.
It was a joke and by the time they returned most of the crowd had gone home

The best one I read about was at the SCG in the bodyline series of 1932-3 where England had to come back on the last day to score one run to win in their second innings! Australia had been bowled out just before stumps on the previous day, but instead of getting it over and done with, they all had to return on day 5. I suppose the umpires had to follow the rules and the Australians would have been hanging out for an overnight deluge!