Waugh shares Twenty20 vision

Australian cricket legend Mark Waugh is gearing up for another action-packed Big Bash League season with Channel 10, writes

MARK Waugh would have been a natural at the form of cricket taking Australia and the world by storm, Twenty20.

One of the legendary Waugh twins (with brother Steve), he had as much talent and smarts with both bat and ball as any player to have graced the cricket field.

Having been such a success in both the Test (128 matches) and One-Day International (244 games) arenas, Waugh would have adapted to the shortest format with aplomb.

“Yeah, I would have loved to have played T20,” Waugh, who retired in 2002, tells The

Guide. “I was just a little bit early.”

The 52-year-old, however, is content to sit back and marvel at the skills now on display – particularly from the Channel 10 commentary box covering the increasingly popular Big Bash League.

“Every ball is exciting,” he says.

“They (the players) are so skilful ... batting and bowling. Each season you see different shots, different types of deliveries.

“It gives the crowd a lot of entertainment in a very short period of time.”

Waugh reckons the 20-over-a-side game is winning over everyone.

“Even the wives love it,” he says. “They can sit there for three and half hours.”

The BBL is giving Australian cricket fans something they’ve never had before – a domestic city-based club to get behind – like they would in the NRL or AFL.

“They’re getting passionate,” Waugh, an unabashed Sydney Thunder supporter, says.

Average crowds hit 30,000 last season, making the BBL among the top-10 attended sports competitions in the world.

On television, Channel 10’s coverage attracted an average 1.03 million viewers nationally throughout the 2016-17 edition.

Waugh and his fellow commentators Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Damien Fleming play a major role with their entertaining call of the action, and wonderful chemistry.

“We played together and we’re all good friends,” Waugh says. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously – when we have to we will. Most of the time we’re just having fun. “It doesn’t even feel like work.” Channel 10 will broadcast 40 BBL matches in 48 days, as well as 12 Women’s Big Bash League games.

This season’s coverage will add a real English flavour with former Test stars Kevin Pietersen, Michael Vaughan and Graeme Swann to have stints in the commentary box.