Sydney Sixers coach Greg Shipperd has taken aim at Cricket Australia over the reduction of the Big Bash League from the beginning of the next TV deal.
Under the current deal, which has one summer remaining, teams have played a full round robin, leading to a BBL which has at times taken up to two months to complete, with each side playing 14 games.
The next deal, which will kick in from the beginning of the 2024-25 summer, will see a reduction, with the tournament's regular season going back to a total of 40 games - just ten per side.
Renewed interest from the public in the BBL this summer though has seen some call for the current format to remain, with talk that Cricket Australia and its broadcasters, Channel 7 and Fox Sports, could bring in the new format a season early waning in recent weeks.
Speaking to News Corp, Shipperd labeled the decision "absolutely crazy" and suggested that he thinks it will be bad for the domestic game in Australia.
“Absolutely crazy. And with these recent results I would be bemused with the media stations that are controlling the narrative around reducing the competition,” Shipperd told News Corp.
“I think it's bad for our domestic players. You've got all the highly paid international superstars not even here and yet we're braining it with crowds and eyeballs.
“Perhaps it might be some of the commentators, some of the ex-players that are leading the way behind the scenes to reduce from 14 games to 10.
“I'm not sure their motive around that but from a coaching point of view, it won't be good for our domestic players to play less cricket. I think playing more cricket is going to improve them and continue to strengthen this competition.”
The BBL's sudden resurgence comes with Australian players back in the mix and a healthy dose of controversy, led by catches outside the boundary and mankads.
Regardless, the tournament has beaten the Australian Open in the TV ratings over the opening nights of the grand slam, and Shpperd said that next season should remain at 14 games per team to give Cricket Australia more time in assessing whether the tournament really needs a reduction or not.
“My understanding was that it was this next season was going to (stay at) 14 and then the following season was going to reduce to 10. That timing may give them an opportunity to rethink their thoughts. And bear a retreat,” Shipperd said.
“I would be bemused why Cricket Australia would want less product based on the recent results, both on the field. It seems an oddity that they would be against it.”
The BBL is currently in its 12th season.
