BBL TESTS WATER OVER CHRISTMAS

CRICKET Australia will delve into the numbers and success of the NBL‘s Christmas Day experiment as part on ongoing discussions around putting the Big Bash on December 25.

While the NBL took the leap to become the first Australian sport to play a game on Christmas Day, an afternoon match on Christmas Eve was as close as Big Bash officials would go despite after year of putting the match on their agenda.

Pushback from players continues to be a hurdle for CA to get the game over the line and last week Christmas Day was declared a “no-go zone” by players including Melbourne Stars batter Hilton Cartwright.

But as it pushes for a new TV rights deal in excess of $1.5 billion, putting a Big Bash game on December 25, CA bos Nick Hockley conceded they remain “open” to making the bold move.

“It’s something we have been talking about for a little while,” Hockley said at the MCG on Monday.

“We’ll have a good look at the (NBL) game last night and it’s something we will continue to talk about with players, with venues, and we’ve got a pretty open mind to it.”

Getting players on board remains the hurdle for CA with

Perth Scorchers bowler Jason Behrendorff – a Western Australia player delegate for the Australian Cricketers Association – declaring there would be opposition if it was canvassed with them.

“I’d love to just be able to spend that day with my family and enjoy the festivities of Christmas,” Behrendorff said.

“It’s really hard to speak for everyone, but I think that would be the general consensus at this stage.

“Through our players’ association we have good discussions with (Cricket Australia) about when we can have input into structures and schedules and things like that.

“We certainly make sure that we voice our opinion because there’s no point sitting silent and then complaining if something doesn’t go your way.”

Hockley conceded the players’ position was a “really important consideration” but one of many in a layered discussion.

“It is a very full cricket calendar,’ he said.

“The Big Bash is unlike a footy season where you play each weekend. These guys are playing one game every two or three days.

“We will look at it and have a good discussion about it at the end of the season.”