1st week of Big Bash Review

Second Slip reflects on the 1st week of the Big Bash and its mixed reactions. Poor attendances but brilliant cricket action. Do you think so?

Dave Warner celebrates a T20 Century, the highlight of the first weekend. Courtesy Getty Images

Casualties, disappointing crowds, a letdown of a legend and old dogs taming the new tricks have been the story of the first round of the newly franchised and up marketed domestic T20 competition.

An under anticipated crowd of 12,000 ventured to the Sydney Cricket ground to watch an injury depleted “Man”genta Sydney Sixers team take on the aqua blue Brisbane Heat. The “Warne show” took to the MCG to face the electric green Sydney Thunder led by T20 dynamo Dave Warner. The Pollard-less Adelaide Strikers took on the Redback Melbourne Renegades at the Adelaide Oval headlined with the best squad in the competition, And finally out in the West in the “Scorching Heat” the veteran Perth team took on the Dark Horse Hobart Hurricanes with their test-match-esque opening pair in Ricky Ponting and Phil Jacques.

Despite the very disappointing crowd for the first game of the revamped T20 Big Bash, the game saw an eventful beginning when Brett Lee roughened up Brendon McCullum through the grill at 140KPH breaking his nose. The revival of the 40 year old grey haired Stuart MacGill saw a brilliant bowling performance that included clean bowling 40 year old Matty Hayden around the legs; the Old Dogs were taming the young man’s game. Chasing down 139 for the Sixers would prove fairly easy with Captain Brad Haddin adding a handy 72 off 59 that ensured the victory. The Sixers won this battle, but with the casualty ward they already hold. Loosing Starc and Haddin to International Duty will hurt. On the other hand the Brisbane Heat Should be gaining Daniel Vettori but at the possible expense of Brendon McCullum and Daniel Christian which could hurt an already struggling team after round 1.

The Warne Show took its first stop at his spiritual home, the MCG. A solid bowling performance from the under-rated bowling team was a main highlight of the Star’s innings where David Hussey and Luke Wright from England make vital cameos in setting up a 153 run chase for the Thunder. Then it began, the two most destructive openers in world T20 joined forces for the Thunder, but their partnership was very short lived with Gayle dismissed for 4 in the first over. This set the most explosive batsman in Australia on a mission for the Thunder, The captain Warner smashed 102* off just 51 balls which included destroying Shane Warne for 2 big sixes over the back of the legendary leg spinners head and numerous lives including being caught over the rope and run-out when nobody on the ground noticed. With Warner staring down the barrel of International duty, it worked out great that he pulled out his best performance when he could. Next week for the Thunder could be D-Day without Warner where Gayle has to perform for the Thunder to get home. For the Stars, well they have to work out what is going on, they need Warne to take wickets and need to win games to get a crowd with such an explosive line-up. Only 23,000 made it to the MCG when it was expected that 50,000-60,000 screaming cricket fans were going to see the great Leg Spinner weave some magic with that bacon burned hand.