The Big Bash League is an exciting league filled with action-packed matches, electrifying displays of cricket, and the audience's reaction. A Diehard fan of BBL would describe it as the 2nd most successful league after IPL. Since its inception in 2011, after its predecessor, KFC Twenty20 Big Bash, it has become a commodity, a commercial success such as the Premier League in English Football and IPL in India.Here, we view the Top 10 Unique Facts about the BBL
1. Formation
BBL came in 2011 for the existing KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. It introduced a franchise-based league format. There are many sponsors for BBL, such as KFC, Woolworths, Nike, BUPA, etc.
2. Has Eight Franchises
BBL has eight franchises that represent different cities in Australia: Sydney Sixers, Hobart Hurricanes, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades, Perth Scorchers, Brisbane Heat, Sydney Thunder, and Melbourne Stars. BBL holds matches in the Spring season, such as December, January, and February.
3. Most Successful Team In Bbl
The most successful team in BBL is the Perth Scorchers, who have won the BBL five times, two times consecutively. In BBL, six teams have a BBL title. It is a tough league compared to others.
4. Innovative Rules
BBL has some innovative rules, which are ahead of other leagues, during its inception. Some rules include Bash-Boost Point, which awards points for the most runs scored by a team within the first half of the innings or the first ten overs, and X-Factor, which allows a team to replace an out-of-form player, with another in-form player, during the match. In the recent IPL, this rule came into IPL as Impact Player. X-Factor was in the first season of BBL. Power Surge came in to encourage batters to play attacking cricket, which resulted in a rapid, constant spectacle for audiences.
5. Entertainment Value
BBL focuses on providing the audience with the maximum entertainment for the money they have spent. They offer a variety of extra entertainment, such as live music performances during the game, fireworks displays, and many such moments, where the league captures both the stadium-watching and home-watching audience.
6. Home-and-away Format
BBL also follows a home-and-away format. Each team plays fourteen matches, one home and one away from their rival teams and player jerseys are also designed according to the venue, therefore having home and away jerseys, like in football games, helps the fans to connect with their city teams and strengthens the connection of the fans with their team.
7. Innovation In Technology
The BBL has made technological innovations to enhance the fan’s experience, such as Spidercam, which provides unique aerial shots for viewers to get a full view of the pitch, motion sensor technology on the bails, which gives more accurate decisions and other such technologies which made other leagues adopt their technology.
8. Wildcard System
The Wildcard system in BBL, like in Baseball leagues in other countries, allows a chance for the fifth position team to qualify for the playoffs through an eliminator round, held between fifth and sixth position teams.
9. Social Media Interaction
The BBL has taken social media as a means to engage with fans and expand its reach. BBL has a strong presence on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where fans can follow updates, highlights, and engage in interactive content.
10. Dual-gender League
BBL in 2020, introduced WBBL(Women’s Big Bash League), which allows fans to watch both men cricket and women’s cricket, which was uncommon in 2020. WBBL has been a success, and fans are ecstatic, to watch.
