What drove the popularity of the Big Bash competition?

In 2011, a whole new dimension to the game was introduced, with the emergence of the Big Bash competition

Without a doubt, cricket is one of the most popular and well-loved sports in Australia. Many Australians live, eat, and breathe the sport. They will watch it on their TV, smartphone or even while doing something like playing slots online on their computer. 

However, in 2011, a whole new dimension to the game was introduced, with the emergence of the Big Bash competition. While British cricketers were still playing Test matches, often in front of empty stadiums, Australians were playing this new, more vibrant form of cricket in front of packed-out audiences.

But what makes it such a popular form of the sport? What has driven people towards it? Here, we explore some of the factors that have driven the popularity of the Big Bash competition. 

People have shorter attention spans

The key difference between traditional test cricket and Big Bash Twenty20 cricket is the length of time they are played over. A test cricket match is played over five days, with six hours of play each day and at least 90 overs bowled. For a hardcore cricket fan, such intense and lengthy matches can be their idea of heaven. However, for those who like to just dip in and out of the sport, or those on a limited time budget, Big Bash cricket is much more accessible.

These days, people are increasingly time-poor. They work longer hours, are socializing more, and have less time to sit and watch a game. A quick game that lasts for just one day is much better for this audience.

New audiences with a need for instant gratification

Talking of audiences, cricket has attracted new audiences in recent years, and this means that it has had to adapt to keep them engaged and interested in the sport. Cricket was once seen as the domain of older gentlemen, perhaps retired men. Now, there is a whole new audience watching: the younger generation.

This generation wants faster paces and instant gratification. They want a touch of showbiz and glamour and drama to the games, just like they get when they play at site like casino EnergyCasino with all its razzmatazz, and the Big Bash competition offers just that. There are fireworks, cheerleaders, mascots - the whole shebang. It is much more than ‘just’ a game of cricket - it is a show. This appeals to the younger generation much more than five days of slow-paced cricket.

It is not only the younger audience that the Big Bash competition has tapped into - it is a female one as well. Typically, cricket has been a man’s game, but why is that? Is it because the drawn-out time span of a Test match is not ideal for women, who are statistically more likely to be arranging childcare and doing the brunt of the domestic work? Shorter games mean they can enjoy it and even take the kids along, making it a much more female and family friendly sport.

It has shown the sport has listened to consumers

Like everything else, sport needs to be showing that is listening to its fans and its consumers and moving with the times. The Big Bash competition is a perfect example of that. It has not signaled the end of Test cricket - that is still available for those who want to stick to the traditional form of the game, but for those who want something a bit more modern and a little bit different, the option is there. This choice makes consumers and fans feel much more empowered and happier and giving them ownership over the sport that they love.