Quantcast

BBL boss floats Christmas Day game

The head of the KFC Big Bash League says matches could be scheduled on the festive holiday

The KFC Big Bash League could schedule a match on Christmas Day after the competition's boss Anthony Everard confirmed Cricket Australia were "open-minded" to the idea.

While Everard suggested CA is still testing the waters on public opinion of a Christmas Day game, it could be a possibility for future editions of the BBL.


Sporting bodies in Australia have generally shied away from scheduling matches on the festive holiday but with the success of the Adelaide Strikers' matches on New Year's Eve, the league is giving thought to a December 25 clash.

"It's very much in the formative stages, in the early days," Everard told Melbourne radio station SEN.

"There was a bit of discussion about it last year. We got a group together over the winter to consider all the different elements and perspectives.

"The key would be, it's not just about rolling out another game on another day. We would want to make it really special and would want to celebrate the Christmas tradition.

"We're keen to hear the feedback – we're going to undertake some more formal fan research over the season."

Quick Single: Australia name unchanged first Test squad

Australia coach Darren Lehmann however was less enthusiastic about the concept when asked about it on Thursday, but admitted he could be persuaded if the public showed interest. 

"It's a family day, isn't it?" Lehmann said.

"It's a really tough one - I don't mind (games being held on) New Year's Eve (and) New Year's Day.

"But Christmas day, it's one of the few family days of the year, it's a really great day in the traditional of the family. 

"It could work, I don't really know. People could vote on that one, maybe that's the way to go with it."


Everard said the league hadn't yet considered where a Christmas Day match would be held but conceded the MCG appears to be off-limits due to the Boxing Day Test.

But he suggested the success of the New Year's Eve fixture at the Adelaide Oval, which the Strikers have hosted since BBL|03, has been encouraging.

"We're keeping a really open mind (as to where the match could be held)," Everard continued.

"Once we have some more information and a more considered view on it, we'll reach out to the clubs and ask for expressions of interest in the same way we did with (the) New Year's Eve (match) a few years ago where the Strikers put their hand up."

Earlier this year, Everard said if they did decide to go ahead with a match on Christmas Day, the game would have to take on a bigger meaning than a regular BBL game.

Quick Single: BBL|06 completed squads

"Christmas Day is a whole different proposition," he told cricket.com.au in February. "It wouldn't just be another Big Bash game, we'd look to create an event around it."

"We could look to partner with perhaps a children's charity for the day, and by extension, invite everyone attending the game to bring a present to donate to kids less fortunate than themselves.

"There are a lot of people on Christmas Day who aren't fortunate enough to have family and friends around. Perhaps a BBL game could create an outlet to bring those people together.

"But whatever we decide, it would have to add value to the day – we don't want to go against years of family tradition.

"The final element is that not all Australians celebrate a traditional Christmas. That's not a reason to do it in its own right but we need to think more broadly that Christmas Day means different things to different people.

"Sport on Christmas day has worked in the US, and there are some learnings from that we could look into further."

Image Id: bigbashcomau/Images/Generic/fantasy-banner.jpg